I was inspired to become a nurse after seeing how kind and gentle the hospice care nurses were with my grandfather before he passed away. The nurses not only cared for him in his most vulnerable state but also for the rest of my family and catered to our emotional needs with such love and compassion; it is something I'll never forget. From then on, I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else's family. Those nurses went the extra mile to make sure all of us were being cared for and spending the quality time we needed with each other. While we were not their main priority, they made it a point to make us a priority and we knew that our loved one was in capable hands. Although I don't necessarily want to be a hospice nurse, I do want to be an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse and I know I can show patients and their family members the same care and compassion as the hospice nurses did for our family. From working in the ICU as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), I was able to closely see how those nurses navigated difficult situations and/or diagnoses and prognoses with patients and/or their family members. Watching them effectively deliver meaningful, quality care during someone's worst moments has been some of the most eye-opening moments of my life. Seeing just how much a small act of empathy can go is so motivating and inspirational for me. Caring for someone in that state is an honor and a privilege to me; knowing that there is a family that is putting their trust in you (and the rest of the healthcare team) completely is so rewarding and it brings me joy knowing that if they're placing that trust in me, then it may take some of the responsibility and worry off of their shoulders. I think I can help carry on Cindy's values by providing the compassion and care that patients need but also doing it in a way that showcases top professionalism and quality care. Through my time as a CNA and an Emergency Department Technician (ED Tech), I've been able to learn how to grow a rapport with patients and learn what makes people feel cared for in their times of need. Nothing brings me greater joy than when a patient feels like not only have their physical needs been met, but their mental and emotional as well and I cannot wait to, someday, be that nurse for someone.

"I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse" - Florence Nightingale. Florence is the face of modern day nursing; without her and her leadership, we would not be where we are today. She perservered in a time where it was uncommon for women to lead and/or take charge. Although she is not around today to spread her knowledge and information, her impact is no less. I tied in the quote form Nightingale that speaks to me the most. Nursing and Healthcare in general can be a very tricky occupation to navigate due to all of the ethical aspects it includes. What do you do when you've done something wrong? What do you do if you're not sure of your next steps? These can be difficult situations in the healthcare field becasue, as we all know, admitting your faults or mistakes can be hard; but in a situation where someones life could be at risk, there is no room for excuses. Being able to own up to your mistakes and feel comfortable fixing them is an incredibly important aspect of nursing. I take pride in knowning that I admit my faults and do not make excuses when it comes to the wellbeing of my patients and coworkers. I can tie in Nightingale's philosophies throughout my entire nursing career and use them every day, and I plan to. Her wisdom that she has passed to genertions of nurses is neverending and I aspire to have a similar impact one day. The way that she singlehandedly redefined nursing is astounding and revolutionary.