Nurses are the linchpin of a medical setting. They provide care to diverse populations and help bridge gaps in times of shortage. The ever-expanding role is becoming more flexible than ever, with room to bridge out into many sectors and advanced practice. My experience and tight-knit relationship with my elderly grandparents opened my eyes to the beauties of a career in nursing. It inspired me to strive to be like the wonderful people who provided care to my grandparents and eased their pain in such vulnerable times. To be a nurse is the highest honor, and I aspire to model that in my care of others. Like Maureen, I am from the Hudson Valley region, and I have visited family in numerous hospitals and facilities throughout Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. I have this experience because my grandparents frequented hospitals throughout my childhood. There were instances where my family felt brushed off by physicians but felt completely heard and cared for by the nursing staff. I internalized those interactions as a child and was very aware of what was going on. Often, our elderly populations slip through the cracks and don't receive the consideration and care that they deserve. Particularly in nursing homes and rehabilitation settings, they are understaffed and have an overwhelming amount of patients to care for. I recall one instance when my grandmother was regaining her strength in a nursing home. When my family went to visit her, we found her soiled, sitting in the dark, and with the information from the previous day on the whiteboard. It was disheartening to see my grandmother and other elderly patients viewed as an afterthought. Conversely, my grandparents had dozens of positive experiences with nurses who go above and beyond to provide quality care for their patients. Those are the Maureens of the profession. In my career as a nurse, I will bridge that gap in care for elderly folks. A lot of their battle is mental. Motivations to keep pushing through rough patches of health are derived from positive mental reinforcements. Like everyone, elderly patients need to be shown that they matter. Part of this comes from positive stimulation. Long-term residents of hospitals and nursing homes should have ways to connect with communities within their center, as well as the outside community. I am currently working with my university's "Aiding Hearts" club to provide visits and fun activities to residents of a local nursing home. For residents who don't have families visiting them, it can be the highlight of their week, thus benefitting elderly patients. I am determined to work with the populations I care for and be an advocate in their corner. Although Maureen did not specifically work in geriatric care, her work provided comprehensive change to hospital systems and had a lasting impact on her patients. These core values of service and selflessness inspire me to keep pushing through nursing school to try to mirror the accomplishments of the nurses who came before me. I hope that in my future career, I can leave the place just a little better than when I found it.

I recall lying on my bedroom floor, all the hope and motivation drained out of me. I thought that it was the end, and that horrific event would forever define my life. Yet, I felt at ease when sharing stories of sexual assault with other women and survivors. Having that camaraderie is truly impactful and helps in the healing journey. To say I immediately healed is an incredible overstatement. However, I always reminded myself that through education, women can gain social and financial mobility in society. I aspire to help women heal from traumas that they have endured through my work as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. When I was sixteen years old, just starting to find my footing in the world and prepare for young adult life, I was sexually assaulted by my partner. We had met at work. I was very into my job, working forty-hour weeks hoping to save up for college. I had been there for a year and was well-respected by management because of my dependability and work ethic. When the perpetrator began working there, he started on a management track very quickly and became a right-hand man. Crazy enough, managers facilitated a relationship between us. That marked the start of an odd and unbecoming time. The environment of the workplace I once loved would suddenly become very unwelcoming to me. Once I had time to process the extent of what had happened to me, I made the hard but necessary decision to report the perpetrator both to the police and my employer. On the outside, my employer was sensitive and supportive of me, but other members of management did not possess the tact the situation called for. Gradually I found myself being excluded from meetings and events, and hearing whispers of my name from fellow coworkers. When trying to address these issues with my superiors I was called "fucking crazy". I had become too much and my perceived exclusion and alienation were all in my head. As a minor, I could not find a job that paid me as much money, so I put up with it for an additional year. I had many rough nights and days, it seemed like my fire had been blown out. I decided that I simply could not deal with the discrimination and constant rehashing of my assault anymore. I was hoping for some form of justice and vindication, that wasn't coming. It was not easy, but with the help of my therapist and supportive people, I was able to escape that draining environment. It was such a hard pill to swallow, but I can rise above my traumas even if some people will never believe or validate them. In my career as a nurse, I want to serve vulnerable populations and be the person that believes them. No patient of mine will ever feel disparaged or like the environment that I foster is unsafe. My commitment is to provide quality care to all of my patients. Women's health, however, is particularly important because it deals with people in some of their most intimate times. Stigmas regarding sexual health affect the comfort of patients. I am working every day to absorb all of the knowledge and humility needed to be that comfort and safety that folks need. With financial support, I can further my education and my dream to serve people who need it most. I hope to be an ally and advocate in their corner, like so many wish they had.

@mirandaspath

I aspire to be both educated and compassionate, leaving my mark on the world in every interaction.

A nurse wears many hats. They have to be adaptable and juggle the needs of a number of patients, simultaneously. Nurses face the challenge of balancing both medical care and interpersonal care. In such a rigorous and demanding environment, it is vital to find determined and passionate providers to fill those roles. My nonpareil experience with elderly people gave me that passion to become a nurse. Throughout my childhood, I had an extremely tight bond with my grandparents. Although we did not live together, the long, meaningful hours we spent together created the feeling that we did. I witnessed frequent hospital visits and medical episodes that were honestly quite scary. Observing medical emergencies that halted my grandmothers breathing or watching her experience a panic attack altered my worldview. Although it is rough for a child, it made me very cognizant of the gift of health, and the privilege it is to receive medical care. It was in these vulnerable moments that I became aware of the importance of nurses in particular. I recall one time, when I was about five years old, my grandma was experiencing incredible chest pain. Numerous doctors did not fully listen to and validate my grandma’s pain. It was two nurses who listened to my grandma’s symptoms and suspected that she needed a cardiac ultrasound. That test led to her eventually getting a pacemaker and subsequently adding over ten quality years to her life. Following detrimental hospital visits, my grandma was sent to a nursing home to An integral trait that a nurse can possess is being adaptable in order fill multiple roles. Because of my exposure to hospital and nursing home, I have always been knowledgeable of the medical intricacies that are present in aging populations. In my grandparents home, I took on the responsibilities of doing daily required exercises and homemaking. Additionally, I sorted and organized my grandparents’ pills. Sure, a lot of this didn’t feel like work because it was out of love for my family, but I was certain from a young age that I wanted to care for others. I aspire to care for the most vulnerable populations in my future career as a nurse. Witnessing such resilience in a hospital setting, especially portrayed by elderly people, made me recognize that quality medical care is needed to facilitate that healing. I specifically want to utilize my experience and passion to make the hard and vulnerable moments more pleasurable. Geriatric patients are often viewed as disposable and I hope to expedite those values in my future practice.

Nurses are integral to the medical community. Their incredible versatility allows them to fill in gaps in any medical specialty. The roles of nurses are ever expanding, and the adaptability that nurses reverently portray inspire me. The flexibility of medical providers complements the superb bedside manner that nurses provide. I have always taken note of particularly kind and caring nurses, and I hope to implement that care into my own nursing practice. In contrast When entering a profession where you have to care for patients in their most vulnerable state, it is important that medical providers ease the pain of their patients. Whether it be mental or physical, some reassuring words of encouragement can make all the difference. In my own experience caring for my elderly grandmother, simple acts like making a neat bed with fluffy blankets boosted her morale. After having an episode where she couldn’t breathe, seeing that someone cared for her and prioritized her comfort and wellbeing put a smile on her face. In contrast, when my grandmother was met with medical support staff that left her soiled in bed all day, she could only think about the pain that she was subjected to. That medical staff fit the requirements for their positions. Maybe they had the best grades and their programs, or possibly they had great abilities to pick up new information. However, bedside manner and quality care are not facets of a nursing job that can easily be tested in school. It is my primary goal and standard for myself to treat my future patients with dignity and respect, and provide top notch care to patients of all demographics. Unfortunately, sometimes providers fall short of these expectations. It is incredibly disheartening to learn that there are people that have insurance and are otherwise eligible for medical care, but refuse to go because they don’t feel welcomed hospital staff and they don’t feel like they will receive quality care. I want to be a nurse that is inclusive of all of my patient’s needs. It is imperative to our field that patients are never judged and always heard. Being immersed in hospital settings as a young child visiting my grandmother, I hope to model the courageous nurses that treated my grandmother like royalty, even in her final days. Nursing is not just a pay check to me, it is a mission to use my medical knowledge to aid people at their lowest. I strive to be a linchpin of a hospital and be a nurse that is remembered for their empathy towards others.