Covid. Covid changed a lot, for a lot of healthcare professionals. Policies changed, patient care changed, and healthcare as a whole changed and was forced to adapt, rapidly. In rural areas, this hit in a different avenue as rural facilities don't have access to the same kinds and amounts of resources as more metropolitan facilities. This forced creativity of all healthcare professionals to become necessity. This viral mishap did establish closer, more cohesive, team dynamics all working for the greater good to provide care for the communities. In the dawning of Covid, my facility enlisted the services of a new director. This director operated as a dictator to enforce policies. Covid brought about a new light in human behavior for me. Multiple codes occurred during Covid. The director insisted only she could stock crash carts. Our Covid unit did not have a dedicated crash cart, which became problematic, rapidly. During one critical moment, I entered a patient's room to find a mere tackle box with IV start kits, NS liter fluid bags, and sodium bicarbonate. That's it. The director made the declaration that all Covid patients would need IVs, fluid boluses, and bicarbonate as she felt they were all acidotic. The facility had appointed a Covid Task Force Leader, a physician, whom was working that day as a hospitalist as well. He entered to assist in this situation to find the same tackle box I was in awe of. The director stopped me in that moment, to place a smock around my waist to hold IV start kits and normal saline flushes, completely ignoring the critical condition of the patient. In this amount of time the family had been called to update of the declining condition to which they ordered do not resuscitate and comfort care measures were confirmed. This physician left to speak with administration about the findings. The wife of this patient had been discharged the day prior, having the same diagnosis. She requested to see the patient in person and the director aptly refused. This individual was still under quarantine for the same illness. Allowances had been made for other Covid patients, but this was denied fervently by the director. As a healthcare worker, it is understood there are certain policies and procedures that must be followed to maintain the health and safety of all individuals. When did we lose humanity? Covid and this director stripped humanity and left all Covid patients with a black tag. It was then up to the nurses to intervene and advocate with the physicians for better policies and procedures to include a dedicated crash cart where the nurses were responsible for fulfilling supplies. This director insisted she be the sole individual responsible for updating the crash carts and replacing supplies. In the same month, she also decided she would no longer replace supplies which became another issue during a different code. This era and these few experiences shaped the medical professional I've became by reinforcing my belief in compassion, empathy, emotional intelligence, and equitable healthcare for all instead of operating off of a 'tag em' and bag em' prose. Covid wasn't a death sentence for all and should have never been treated as such. This director enlightened me on who to not model and to stand strong in my beliefs as a nurse.

Intellectual stimulation and making a difference in the lives of others were two biggest driving factors in pursuing a degree in healthcare. The healthcare field if continuously growing, adapting, and changing requiring ongoing education and professional development. Through these avenues, personal satisfaction is achieved by helping people become healthier which has enriched my personal life. Being a healthcare worker is deeply fulfilling and rewarding. I have always been drawn to the medical field. Even as a young child, I was constantly reading medical dictionaries, memorizing anatomy, and even watching TV series such as Untold Stories of the ER. Nursing combines the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives as well as the opportunity to grow personally and professional in a constantly evolving world. Nursing resonates with my personal values of empathy and service. I have always been drawn to help others and this profession allows me to turn my dreams and desires into action. Whether this is through emotional support, patient advocacy, communication, and providing quality clinical care, nursing offers comprehensive and holistic ways to connect with people and contribute to their health and well-being. I am motivated by the opportunity to provide comfort, support, and medical care to patients and their families, whether helping someone recover from illness or assisting families during critical times. This ability to positively influence lives and support individuals through challenges is a central reason I have continued to pursue my education further in nursing as well as providing the new generation of nurses with equitable education to continue with the legacy myself, as well as many other nurses, have and are creating. My interest in nursing ultimately stems from a blend of human compassion, dedication to service, and the pursuit of a meaningful and diverse career. This combination ensures that I can positively impact individuals and communities while continually growing as both a healthcare professional and a compassionate caregiver. As a woman in the healthcare field, my hope is to make a positive impact by utilizing emotional intelligence to provide optimum patient-centered care and empathy. By actively listening to patients, respecting their values, and providing emotional support, I aim to foster trust and encourage proactive engagement in health decisions, ultimately improving both health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Being more in-tune with issues women face, advocating for women's health is a must. Female patients often face inequities which delays treatment. I aim to advocate for these patients by ensuring equitable access to care and education, facilitating informed decision-making, and supporting preventative health measures to mitigate long-term risks. By reflecting on past experiences of leaders in healthcare, I also intend to mentor peers and future nurses to navigate challenges and build confidence. Women remain underrepresented in senior healthcare positions and I aspire to contribute to breaking these barriers by advocating for fair representation, sharing knowledge, and encouraging leadership skills among other female colleagues. As a woman in healthcare, I will combine compassionate care, proactive advocacy, mentorship, and leadership, all geared toward fostering equitable, high-quality healthcare. Women provide unique contributions shaped by societal roles, lived experiences, and gendered patient needs and can enhance patient trust, improve equitable healthcare, and drive innovations that are more inclusive and holistic which are areas that may be difficult for men to replicate fully.

The impact of having a loved one with a disability directly impacts emotional, practical, and social domains which shapes personal development. Complex emotions such as grief, sadness, stress, guilt, anger, and anxiety are experienced in some fashion, daily. This experience has forced adaptive coping skills and strategies which strengthened patience, empathy, emotional resilience and emotional intelligence. This has also strengthened bonds and has heightened appreciation of life and the complexities that can happen. There is pressure to mask or hide emotions in order to maintain balance. The bonds built, in retrospect, provides a safe space to express emotion which only strengthens those relationships. Certain social stigmas impact experiences and cause hesitation or exclusion as well. Heavy education is usually implemented to reduce misunderstanding and promote acceptance. This has shaped my understanding in quadriplegia and the special comorbidities that occur. I have grown in appreciation for my loved one and have become better educated with more professional resources to strengthen resilience and connection. This disability has raised my awareness for the diversity in human experiences. This has also influenced choices regarding healthcare decisions, relationships, caregiving philosophies and theories as well as heightened my desire to advocate for others in similar positions. Having a loved one with a disability profoundly impacts a person's emotional landscape, family dynamics, and life trajectory at times. Stress, caregiving, and social complexities can be substantial but with open communication, support, and resilience, bonds are strengthened. This experience has shaped perspectives and the importance of life. This has shaped how I practice patient care, mentor future nursing students, and the understanding burdens and perspectives of the injured. Watching my loved one remember life before injury and reflect on different things as well and discussing the aspirations for life before injury has raised my awareness of the stress, grief, and emotional strain experienced as well as internal battles. With this experience I often find myself attempting to integrate more holistic care in daily care of my loved one and of my patients instead of strictly medicalized approaches to promote patient-centered and individualized, personal care. This has enabled me to better explain diagnosis, interventions, and prognosis without patronization. This has allowed me to better address emotional needs due to the raised awareness of the grief, stress, and anxiety associated with the disability. Being able to watch my loved one handle different challenges and grow in new manners has helped me to recognize discriminatory assumptions and biases to better provide care. I advocate for equitable policies and reasonable accommodations in both clinical and educational settings.

My motivation for pursuing advanced education is for personal growth and knowledge expansion. higher education provides opportunities to deepen understanding and explore new perspectives. Another motivation is for career and personal advancement. Higher education provides credentials, specialized knowledge, and practical skills needed to qualify for advanced positions, increasing earning potential, and allows for networking with professionals, mentors, and peers. Advanced education fosters a mindset of lifelong learning. This encourages adaptability in an evolving world. Becoming an advanced nurse educator will give the opportunity to shape healthcare, mentor aspiring nurses, and achieve both personal and professional fulfillment while contributing to patient care. One of the strongest motivations in nursing education is the ability to impact the next generation of nurses. Harboring advanced skills and knowledge to influence the quality of care for patients for years to come and contributing directly to the improvement of healthcare practices and policies will also help the critical nursing shortage. Watching students grasp concepts, grow in confidence, and develop professional skills offers personal and professional satisfaction. being able to guide future nurses through challenges, engage in critical thinking, and instill values such as empathy and professionalism will create a lasting impression in the profession and perhaps create future educators as well. Advancing into the role of nurse educator provides opportunities for continuous learning and career development. Educators are required to stay current with advancements in healthcare, integrate evidence-based practice into curriculum and the potential to engage in research, curriculum design, and policy development. Being a nurse educator also offers personal fulfillment through witnessing students grow and succeed. Sharing experiences, nurturing potential, and directly contributing to the profession's future fosters a strong sense of purpose. The overall blend of impacting patient care and the nursing profession, mentoring future nurses, personal and professional growth, balance and flexibility, and the reward and satisfaction of seeing students succeed create a highly satisfying and influential career. To be the recipient of this scholarship would provide financial support, enable advanced academic opportunities, enhance professional development, and contribute to career advancement in the field of nursing education. This scholarship would assist in reducing the financial burden of my graduate program. This support would enable me to focus on studies and research without the stress of financial withdrawal. This scholarship will allow me to continue my education which contributes to the development of the next generation of nurses. This will allow me to commit to a faculty position which would then address nursing faculty shortages, increase educational program capacity, and improve healthcare workforce quality. This scholarship will offer financial relief, access to advanced academic opportunities, and the ability to impact nursing positively. This scholarship would be an investment in both my career growth and the nursing workforce.

Have you ever wanted to prove someone wrong? Someone who has consistently spoke down on any educational advancement you attempted? I completed my associate's degree and immediately jumped into a bachelor's degree in science - nursing. I gave birth to my third child during my first semester. Help wasn't present. I was told to quit and focus on something else that mattered. The father of the children wouldn't help in any regard, be it watching his newborn, cooking, cleaning, or even working to ease the financial strain. I quit the program I was in in order to work and provide for my family as it was left up to me. I was told there was no reason in furthering my education because it was useless. I was told I should be done and happy with what I was allowed to do. I forged on for a number of years, working and rearing the children. The children grew and were able to be enrolled in school. This was when I decided it was my turn to do something for myself. Because the father of the children didn't like school nor did he do well in school, I shouldn't want to continue my education any further. Wrong. I wanted to learn more and be able to provide more for my patients and my family. Returning to school was personal. This was something I needed to do for myself and something I needed to do to prove that education is important. Knowledge is power and not listening to nay sayers is important. Being determined, consistent, and steady will make success at any pace. Returning to school showed myself and my children that you need to do what you need to do to make your life yours no matter what that may be. For me, gaining more knowledge and being a lifelong learner is of importance. Completing what I set out to do so many years ago is important. Proving to yourself that you can, in fact, do anything you set your mind to with determination - whatever the driving factor may be. Not only do I want to prove to certain individuals that I can complete this education, but that I harbor determination and the grit necessary to work through anything I come up against. All of these things provide me with the courage to continue my education and continue with coursework to complete the program successfully.

I always knew there was a mental health crisis on the horizon, even from a young age. My uncle, stricken with scarlet fever, set the family farm on fire and attempted to burn the house down around him. This was my first experience with mental health issues. I didn't understand at the time, but looking back and seeing my uncle in and out of mental health facilities, those experiences shaped how I think about mental illness. My experiences with mental health have shaped my compassionate beliefs about seeking help, improved my relationships through vulnerability, and directed my career aspirations toward meaningful healthcare work to aid others. Understanding mental health's impact has been transformative, driving a commitment to promote awareness and support. Overall, these experiences have provided me with a unique perspective that I wish to share with others in my professional journey. Mental health plays a critical role in shaping an individual's beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. My personal experience with mental health challenges, particularly with episodes of depression, has profoundly influenced my worldview and attitudes towards psychological intervention. I have family members who have been lost to drugs, and seeing the tide and ebb of emotions and manipulations showed me a different way of thinking about mental illness and addiction. I watched as individuals abused the system to get more drugs while those who were seeking legitimate help were pushed away. Knowing these different things and having these different experiences has shaped how I feel about mental health. It has caused me to hone in on my questions when interviewing a patient to see if the issue at hand a mental illness or an addiction is. In my career, knowing the differences and having experiences with addiction and mental illness, I plan on furthering my education to provide better care for both types of patients. Mental health facilities are not near as many as they should be, and a lot of people and their families suffer because of that. Touching these subjects while hospitalized may help the patients realize the causes, effects, and treatment options. I would love to be able to identify underlying addiction and what those individuals may be seeking versus treating for a mental illness. I would love to be able to accurately describe personalities to physicians to achieve better healthcare for those who are mentally ill. I have always been someone who will take on challenging situations to help because coming from a poor home with issues revolving around mental illness and addiction means help is limited. The number of people willing to help and try to understand is limited.

Sitting on the living room floor of my aunt's house watching Trauma: Life in the ER as an elementary school kid was when I knew I wanted to be involved in healthcare. All the gore and guts appealed to me; however, I was amazed at how people had devastating injuries or events, and these medical professionals were able to pick up the pieces and put these people back together. I completed a nurses' aid training program in school and fell in love with healthcare all over again. I started working immediately after getting the certificate and continued to work as a CNA for many years. I eventually decided to return to school, and my course of study was in hospital administration because I thought maybe I could make a big difference that would curb the way healthcare was in the rural area I lived in. That was not my particular cup of tea, and I decided to change educational tracks. I completed classes in complementary healthcare. I completed courses in psychology. I couldn't decide what specialty I was destined for. I then enrolled in a massage therapy program. I graduated, obtained my massage therapy licensure, and opened my practice. I worked with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and medical doctors to assist in rehabilitation for a full range of clients and disorders. I still wasn't satisfied. It wasn't until my sister fell ill with stage 4 cancer that I knew where I needed to be. I was helping the single nurse in the chemotherapy infusion clinic provide snacks, drinks, and assistance to the bathroom. The nurse looked utterly at ease working with many different patients. The nurse worked quickly, starting IVs and initiating chemotherapy infusions. They nurse stated she felt fulfilled at the end of each day regardless of how many patients were seen or what happened throughout the days because she knew without a doubt that she was helping patients. I closed my massage therapy practice and enrolled in a practical nursing program. I completed this program and immediately enrolled in an accelerated RN bridge program. I worked as a charge nurse in a local nursing home during this course. I completed this program and started working as a registered nurse on a med/surg floor. I knew that was where I was meant to be. I was quickly acclimated to a fast-paced environment. I floated to other departments, such as the intensive care unit and emergency department. I even helped in the obstetrics department a few times. I became the charge nurse for the med/surg floor inadvertently. I wasn't trying; I only wanted to do my job well. I loved providing care to my patients and seeing possible outcomes on a med/surg floor. It wasn't until roughly eight years into my nursing career that I felt I needed more education. More and more people were admitted for different illnesses. These illnesses continue to grow more complicated with each new virus introduced or comorbidity that has arisen due to another disease process. Furthering my education is the only logical next step to continue caring for my patients and offering them the best care possible. I spend considerable time educating my patients and their families on disease processes, effects of, and treatments for different illnesses. I strive to educate my coworkers on different things. I also work as a clinical instructor for new nursing students just entering the field. Covid caused immense strain on healthcare, and I feel I can make a positive impact as a woman in the field by showing the new generation of nurses how to cope and manage this field.

Sitting on the living room floor of my aunt's house watching Trauma: Life in the ER as an elementary school kid was when I knew I wanted to be involved in healthcare. All the gore and guts appealed to me; however, I was amazed at how people had devastating injuries or events, and these medical professionals were able to pick up the pieces and put these people back together. I completed a nurses' aid training program in school and fell in love with healthcare all over again. I started working immediately after getting the certificate and continued to work as a CNA for many years. I eventually decided to return to school, and my course of study was in hospital administration because I thought maybe I could make a big difference that would curb the way healthcare was in the rural area I lived in. That was not my particular cup of tea, and I decided to change educational tracks. I completed classes in complementary healthcare. I completed courses in psychology. I couldn't decide what specialty I was destined for. I then enrolled in a massage therapy program. I graduated, obtained my massage therapy licensure, and opened my practice. I worked with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and medical doctors to assist in rehabilitation for a full range of clients and disorders. I still wasn't satisfied. It wasn't until my sister fell ill with stage 4 cancer that I knew where I needed to be. I was helping the single nurse in the chemotherapy infusion clinic provide snacks, drinks, and assistance to the bathroom. The nurse looked utterly at ease working with many different patients. The nurse worked quickly, starting IVs and initiating chemotherapy infusions. They nurse stated she felt fulfilled at the end of each day regardless of how many patients were seen or what happened throughout the days because she knew without a doubt that she was helping patients. I closed my massage therapy practice and enrolled in a practical nursing program. I completed this program and immediately enrolled in an accelerated RN bridge program. During this course, I worked as a charge nurse in a local nursing home. I completed this program and started working as a registered nurse on a med/surg floor. I knew that was where I was meant to be. I was quickly acclimated to a fast-paced environment. I floated to other departments, such as the intensive care unit and emergency department. I even helped in the obstetrics department a few times. I became the charge nurse for the med/surg floor inadvertently. I wasn't trying; I only wanted to do my job well. I loved caring for my patients and seeing possible outcomes on a med/surg floor. It wasn't until roughly eight years into my nursing career that I felt I needed more education. More and more people were admitted for different illnesses. These illnesses continue to grow more complicated with each new virus introduced or comorbidity that has arisen due to another disease process. Furthering my education is the only logical next step to continue caring for my patients and offering them the best care possible. I spend considerable time educating my patients and their families on disease processes, effects of, and treatments for different illnesses. I strive to educate my coworkers on different things. I also work as a clinical instructor for new nursing students just entering the field. Covid caused immense strain on healthcare, and I feel I can positively impact the field by showing the new generation of nurses how to cope and manage this field.

Sitting on the living room floor of my aunt's house watching Trauma: Life in the ER as an elementary school kid was when I knew I wanted to be involved in healthcare. All the gore and guts appealed to me; however, I was amazed at how people had devastating injuries or events, and these medical professionals were able to pick up the pieces and put these people back together. I completed a nurses' aid training program in school and fell in love with healthcare all over again. I started working immediately after getting the certificate and continued to work as a CNA for many years. I eventually decided to return to school, and my course of study was in hospital administration because I thought maybe I could make a big difference that would curb the way healthcare was in the rural area I lived in. That was not my particular cup of tea, and I decided to change educational tracks. I completed classes in complementary healthcare. I completed courses in psychology. I couldn't decide what specialty I was destined for. I then enrolled in a massage therapy program. I graduated, obtained my massage therapy licensure, and opened my practice. I worked with acupuncturists, chiropractors, and medical doctors to assist in rehabilitation for a full range of clients and disorders. I still wasn't satisfied. It wasn't until my sister fell ill with stage 4 cancer that I knew where I needed to be. I was helping the single nurse in the chemotherapy infusion clinic provide snacks, drinks, and assistance to the bathroom. The nurse looked utterly at ease working with many different patients. The nurse worked quickly, starting IVs and initiating chemotherapy infusions. They nurse stated she felt fulfilled at the end of each day regardless of how many patients were seen or what happened throughout the days because she knew without a doubt that she was helping patients. I closed my massage therapy practice and enrolled in a practical nursing program. I completed this program and immediately enrolled in an accelerated RN bridge program. I worked as a charge nurse in a local nursing home during this course. I completed this program and started working as a registered nurse on a med/surg floor. I knew that was where I was meant to be. I was quickly acclimated to a fast-paced environment. I floated to other departments, such as the intensive care unit and emergency department. I even helped in the obstetrics department a few times. I became the charge nurse for the med/surg floor inadvertently. I wasn't trying; I only wanted to do my job well. I loved providing care to my patients and seeing possible outcomes on a med/surg floor. It wasn't until roughly eight years into my nursing career that I felt I needed more education. More and more people were admitted for different illnesses. These illnesses continue to grow more complicated with each new virus introduced or comorbidity that has arisen due to another disease process. Furthering my education is the only logical next step to continue caring for my patients and offering them the best care possible. I spend considerable time educating my patients and their families on disease processes, effects of, and treatments for different illnesses. I strive to educate my coworkers on different things. I also work as a clinical instructor for new nursing students just entering the field. Covid caused immense strain on healthcare, and I feel I can make a positive impact as a woman in the field by showing the new generation of nurses how to cope and manage this field.

Each child presented new challenges. Divorces occurred, sicknesses happened leading to surgery for one of my children which led to school being put on hold to care for my children. Lessened time with my children has caused issues in home life and school life resulting in additional classes and evaluations for my children. My youngest child has a learning disability and my returning to school has impeded his learning as his father doesn't necessarily push education. His father is disabled and has learning disabilities as well further complicating my going back to school. My oldest child made the big decision to move to another state with her father causing turmoil in our relationship and stressed finances. This actually helped me pour more of myself into my studies to keep my mind busy. My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly this year as well after overcoming a massive stroke and cervical cancer in the two years prior. This all has presented challenges in new responsibilities. I was able to find time by rearranging class schedules and times for study and have continued my educational journey throughout all of this. A mere few months ago my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent a radical prostatectomy. This made anxiety and financial strain soar. With all of these new findings, time management became a challenge as well as juggling those responsibilities of appointments and homework. Managing tuition costs has caused anxiety and stress. This has forced more hours and multiple jobs to manage those costs which has caused disruption in my personal life. Balancing the time for school, family, and work has forced structured schedules and networking with others who have traveled down the undergraduate and graduate courses to better themselves. Learning how to learn new material - such as statistic - was also quite the challenge. this class forced a new way of thinking and the reintroduction of different mathematical methods that haven't been utilized since grade school. Difficulty in understanding course materials is challenging, through an exam failure and massive review I was able to overcome the knowledge deficit and passed the final exam. Constant distractions, such as different travel job opportunities, has caused deliberation and challenges. Another job is not the answer while attempting to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree. The stressors of the Covid pandemic forced burnout and healthcare strain to a level that mental health is of massive concern. Anxiety, stress, fatigue, and constant self-neglect has challenged my mental capacity to complete assignments and practicums on time. Adaptations to online learning is another challenge. Going from a seated class for practical and registered nursing to online coursework for nursing presented a new level of concern for skills being learned as there is not an instructor to immediately tell you you have done something wrong or how to actually complete the skill. You are forced to be a self-learner. This brings about academic pressure and motivation issues.