My story begins before I was even old enough to understand it. I was born a NICU baby; tiny, fragile, and fighting for every breath. My earliest days were spent under the watchful eyes of nurses who became my first protectors. Though I don’t remember those moments firsthand, I’ve grown up hearing stories from my parents about the care, patience, and compassion those nurses showed. They weren’t just monitoring machines or adjusting IV lines; they were holding my parents’ hands, reassuring them when fear threatened to overwhelm, and celebrating every ounce of progress I made. In many ways, their dedication gave me the chance to grow up, and that gift has inspired me to dedicate my life to nursing. As I grew older, I began to understand what it meant to have started life in the NICU. My parents often described the nurses as angels in scrubs, people who carried them through the darkest days with kindness and strength. That image stayed with me. It planted a seed of gratitude that has only grown stronger with time. I realized that nursing is not just about saving lives; it’s about giving families hope when they feel powerless. Knowing that I was once on the receiving end of that hope makes me want to pass it forward. My inspiration deepened when I began volunteering at hospitals and assisted living facilities. I saw firsthand how nurses balanced science and compassion, how they could move seamlessly from technical tasks to moments of quiet reassurance. I remembered the stories of my NICU nurses and thought: this is what they must have done for me. Every time I saw a nurse kneel beside a patient or comfort a worried family member, I felt a connection to my own beginnings. It was as if my life had come full circle, I had survived because of nurses, and now I wanted to become one. The turning point came when I shadowed a nurse in a pediatric unit. Watching her care for children reminded me of my own fragile start. She didn’t just treat illnesses; she treated fears, anxieties, and the invisible wounds that come with being vulnerable. I saw how her presence transformed the room, how her calm voice and gentle touch gave families strength. In that moment, I knew nursing was not simply a career path, it was a calling. It was the way I could honor the nurses who once fought for me and give other families the same sense of hope. Nursing inspires me because it is a profession built on empathy, resilience, and service. It demands both intellect and heart. Nurses are healers, advocates, and companions in the hardest moments of life. For me, the inspiration is deeply personal: I am living proof of the impact nurses can have. Their care gave me the chance to grow, to dream, and to pursue this very path. That knowledge fuels me every day. Ultimately, what inspired me to pursue nursing is the belief that healing is not just about curing disease—it is about restoring hope. Nurses have the privilege of entering people’s lives at their most fragile points and offering strength, compassion, and dignity. I want to be that presence. I want to walk into a room and remind families, as mine was once reminded, that they are not alone. Nursing is not just a career choice for me, it is a way of honoring my own story, a way of turning gratitude into action, and a way of carrying forward the light that once saved me.

Nice to meet you , My name is Domonique Rose . I’m currently a senior in my nursing program in southern Idaho ! When I’m not balancing working fulltime , and fulltime course load of my senior year , I enjoy running , lifting weights , and cuddling my cute dog Watson! I was born 3.5 months early and spent a good portion of the first year of my life in and out of the hospital . I’ve lived in Washington , Colorado , Wyoming , and now Boise, Idaho! I have loved the opportunity to learn and grow in every one of these states. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life until I was 23 years old. I found my self passionate about what emergency services had in store and what it looked like . I received my emt certification in 2018, and it was the best decision I have ever made . I’ve spent that last 7 years working I’m EMS , and in the emergency room . Working in the emergency room lead me to find my new passion , nursing . I want to be able to think more critically while having a higher impact on healthcare . Nurses have the opportunity to learn so much , with the bigger opportunity to give into so many specialties . So, in 2022 I dived head first into nursing school. I’ve spent the last 7 years serving in my communities through public service . This includes 911 calls, inter facility transfers, as well as working in local emergency rooms as well. While living in Colorado, every December the ems agency I worked for went out on a volunteer basis and did fill the ambulance at our local Sam’s Club for the Weld county food banks in Colorado . Serving my community to me is donee effortlessly and with ease. I want anyone and everyone to know they’re loved , valued , and appreciated . Serving in my community makes a piece of whole every time I do it ! Watching the smiles on faces , meeting people with the same interested as mine , and getting to know the people around me as if they were family is something I not only cherish but have grown to appreciate in my early 30’s. I can’t imagine not serving in a community I live in , and even though I do it in a way most wouldn’t think of , it’s something I cherish and love while heartedly!

I am currently 30 years old , in my senior year of my nursing program . When I’m not juggling work and school full time , I enjoy running , as well as lifting weights . I knew I wanted to work in healthcare from the time I was about 15 years old . I spent the first 6 months of my life in and out of the NICU in Spokane,WA because I was born 3.5 months early . Nursing to me is so much more than another job, It’s my calling . I’ve spent 7 years working in emergency services , with the last few months working in CVICU in southern Idaho . I’m interested in pediatric nursing as well as critical care because I enjoy getting the opportunity to think critically, and ensure I’m 10 steps ahead for my patients . I want to bring back the hope we use to see in healthcare . This job makes me happy , and this profession I’m looking to step into is all I could dream of a more . My philosophy for healthcare that I live by is one I learned in my first few months of healthcare . Treat every patient like you would want your family to be treated. Our everyday can be someone’s worst day. We never know what a person is truly going through , and they deserve our compassion , love , and commitment to going above and beyond for them just as we would want for our family members. This allows me to take a step back and break before I walk into a room to ensure I am giving my 110 percent to my patients 100 percent of the time . I first started in healthcare in 2019 as an EMT in northern Colorado . There I ran high acuity calls , as well as spent a lot of sleepless nights doing transfers to ensure patients were taken to where they meed d to go . Amongst that, I had the opportunity to work with lifeline which is UCHLEATHS flight team . I saw a lot of critical patients , and learned so much simply by being present in their calls . I also spent another year in southern Wyoming working as an er tech and then moved to Boise in 2022 and have work in the emergency room up until October 5th of this year . I Chose to transfer to Cardiovascular ICU to expand my knowledge and allow myself to step out of my comfort zone and learn more . To end, I would love nothing more than to go back to Spokane and work with and along side those serving the community I grew up in . I’m looking forward to the experience and what my future has in store.