With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a patient and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. This experience taught me firsthand the obstacles that someone can experience in a lower income bracket. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I had the opportunity to volunteer for the last three years at a hospital that caters to low income individuals within my community. It was here on the telemetry med surge unit that I was able to further my CNA experience to a diverse population of individuals who lacked the accessibility of great health care. Having grown up with my family having limited financial means and learning early on the importance of being frugal, I was able to empathize with my patients situation. I understood first hand after moving away from home the hard decisions that came when deciding to fund a medical appointment or pay necessary, urgent bills. I did not allow the coronavirus pandemic to hinder my volunteering. I joined my hospital's Senior Care Network Center to build a database of resources for low income seniors that needed additional aid. My primary focus within the SCNC is to collect and build a database of resources ranging from transportation to outpatient health care services. Building this database has been my highlight of 2020-2021. My intention is to create strategies for successful mental health community programs for impoverished women experiencing depression. I believe that by having more individuals in the psychiatric mental health world that come from the foundation of learning where a person is looked at holistically that nursing provides, we will have less women and men that continue to suffer from ongoing mental health obstacles. My end goal is to work within my low income community to aid those in a lower financial bracket the finest mental health care possible.

With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a woman and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing, female led healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found an empathic woman specializing as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. This experience taught me firsthand the obstacles that a woman can experience in a lower income bracket along with the overwhelmingly under researched livelihoods of woman with ADHD. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I had the opportunity to volunteer for the last three years at a hospital that caters to low income individuals within my community. It was here on the telemetry med surge unit that I was able to further my CNA experience to a diverse population of individuals who lacked the accessibility of great health care. Having grown up with my family having limited financial means and learning early on the importance of being frugal, I was able to empathize with my patients situation. I understood first hand after moving away from home the hard decisions that came when deciding to fund a medical appointment or pay necessary, urgent bills. I did not allow the coronavirus pandemic to hinder my volunteering. I joined my hospital's Senior Care Network Center to build a database of resources for low income seniors that needed additional aid. My primary focus within the SCNC is to collect and build a database of resources ranging from transportation, geriatric women's health resources, to outpatient health care services. Building this database has been my highlight of 2020-2021. My intention is to create strategies for successful mental health community programs for impoverished women experiencing depression. I believe that by having more individuals in the psychiatric mental health world that come from the foundation of learning where a person is looked at holistically that nursing provides, we will have less women and men that continue to suffer from ongoing mental health obstacles. My end goal is to work within my low income community to aid those in a lower financial bracket the finest mental health care possible.

With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a low income patient and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. This experience taught me firsthand the obstacles that someone can experience in a lower income bracket. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I had the opportunity to volunteer for the last three years at a hospital that caters to low income individuals within my community. It was here on the telemetry med surge unit that I was able to further my CNA experience to a diverse population of individuals who lacked the accessibility of great health care. Having grown up with my family having limited financial means and learning early on the importance of being frugal, I was able to empathize with my patients situation. I understood first hand after moving away from home the hard decisions that came when deciding to fund a medical appointment or pay necessary, urgent bills. I did not allow the coronavirus pandemic to hinder my volunteering. I joined my hospital's Senior Care Network Center to build a database of resources for low income seniors that needed additional aid. My primary focus within the SCNC is to collect and build a database of resources ranging from transportation to outpatient health care services. Building this database has been my highlight of 2020-2021. My intention is to create strategies for successful mental health community programs for impoverished women experiencing depression. I believe that by having more individuals in the psychiatric mental health world that come from the foundation of learning where a person is looked at holistically that nursing provides, we will have less women and men that continue to suffer from ongoing mental health obstacles. My end goal is to work within my low income community to aid those in a lower financial bracket the finest mental health care possible.

With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a patient and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. This experience taught me firsthand the obstacles that someone can experience in a lower income bracket. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I had the opportunity to volunteer for the last three years at a hospital that caters to low income individuals within my community. It was here on the telemetry med surge unit that I was able to further my CNA experience to a diverse population of individuals who lacked the accessibility of great health care. Having grown up with my family having limited financial means and learning early on the importance of being frugal, I was able to empathize with my patients situation. I understood first hand after moving away from home the hard decisions that came when deciding to fund a medical appointment or pay necessary, urgent bills. I did not allow the coronavirus pandemic to hinder my volunteering. I joined my hospital's Senior Care Network Center to build a database of resources for low income seniors that needed additional aid. My primary focus within the SCNC is to collect and build a database of resources ranging from transportation to outpatient health care services. Building this database has been my highlight of 2020-2021. My intention is to create strategies for successful mental health community programs for impoverished women experiencing depression. I believe that by having more individuals in the psychiatric mental health world that come from the foundation of learning where a person is looked at holistically that nursing provides, we will have less women and men that continue to suffer from ongoing mental health obstacles. My end goal is to work within my low income community to aid those in a lower financial bracket the finest mental health care possible.

Being undiagnosed with ADHD made highschool and my undergrad very, very difficult. It was while I was in my fashion program at CSULA that I invested in my mental health and established better school-work-life boundaries with a therapist. I explored the referral I received in grade school that I may have ADHD while pursuing my prerequisites for nursing school. It was during this time that I learned that I had more strengths than the weaknesses that my ADHD presented. My unique lens and problem solving made me a better business owner as a wedding event florist and allowed me to creatively solve problems. The struggles I’ve overcome with ADHD have given me a deeper level of compassion because I have experienced firsthand what it is like to be different and to struggle from not being neurotypical. My determination and perseverance to reach what I know is my fullest potential allows me to fail, fall, and pick myself up again. I want to reach my highest level of success so badly that I will continue to try until I accomplish what I set out to do. My laser focus and endless energy allows me to excel in what I set out to do. Thankfully I’ve had a fascination with all things medical and the life long, ongoing education that the healthcare system presents excites me. The journey of failing, falling, and picking myself back up in the trials of my undergrad has thoroughly prepared me for the rigors of a second bachelor degree and a future masters degree to become a Psychiatrist Nurse Practitioner. The lessons that I have learned the hard way, along with the skill sets I have learned from my ADHD coach, have set me up to meet my highest level of potential and success in my endeavors. With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a patient and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. This experience taught me firsthand the obstacles that someone can experience in a lower income bracket. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I want to fight to create strategies for successful community mental health programs for impoverished women experiencing depression. I believe that by having more individuals in the psychiatric mental health world that come from the foundation of learning where a person is looked at holistically that nursing provides, we will have less women and men that continue to suffer from ongoing mental health obstacles. My end goal is to work within my low income community to aid those in a lower financial bracket the finest mental health care possible.

My understanding of the impact a healthcare provider can have was fully understood when my Abuela fought her stage 4 colorectal cancer. I experienced first hand the importance of the bedside connection and the relationship building aspect between patient and family. The advocation that the nurses had for my Abuela and her treatment plan showed me the perseverance and bravery that nursing requires. The supportive presence her nurses gave us aided us in the fight against her terminal cancer. Their fight for her to have the best care has had a lasting impact on how I view the human experience. With my recent diagnosis of ADHD I have experienced the healthcare system as a patient and have a new-found appreciation of the importance of an all encompassing healthcare team. I unsuccessfully saw several providers and had to fight and self advocate that my underlying depression was a comorbid condition to a possible ADHD diagnosis. After many months of looking for a provider to look at my medical history and look at my life experience holistically I found a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who fought for me. From this experience I want to give back the compassion that I have received in my mental health journey, along with the aid that the Oncology doctors and nurses gave my Abuela and her family, toward my own patients by continuing my education post ABSN at Creighton University to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I want to fight to create strategies for successful community mental health programs for impoverished women experiencing depression.