Growing up, I was convinced I wanted to be a doctor. I grew up in a military family and had a step-dad that was a physician assistant, a father that was a physical therapist, a step-mom that was a nurse, a step-grandfather that was a surgeon, and a mother that was a medical office manager. Needless to say, I grew up in the hospital. However, my life plan came crashing down when I was in college. I was volunteering at a community health clinic as a scribe, was studying pre-med in college, and was getting observation hours at various medical facilities in town. Before I knew it, I had several physicians talking me out of medicine all together. They would tell me that I would make a great clinician, however healthcare is not the way to go. I remember thinking, "Okay, now what? You are supposed to listen to those smarter than you. Obviously they have a good reason in saying this." I decided to follow my other passion. I got my BAS in Digital Media and began working in marketing, sales, and communications. I loved design and had the satisfaction that there was always something new and exciting for me to try, but there was an emptiness that could not be solved. I decided to go to EMT school so that I could learn how to better understand the medical world in an attempt to work in medical marketing and education. Unexpectedly, I fell in love with the field. The rush of saving a life and helping those in their most vulnerable times was a "high" you could not get from any drug. I went on to get my Paramedic Certification and Critical Care/Flight Certifications. As a shift supervisor and training officer, I made it my mission to educate my patients and train my employees to provide the best care possible. After several years, I wanted more. I decided it was time to go back to school. I started working in the emergency department of the local trauma center about six months ago. It only took three months for me to fall in love with patient care at the hospital. I did patient care as a paramedic, but this was different. On the ambulance, you "save lives," but it is only for a moment. In the hospital, you save lives and get to see them go home. It was during my first time treating a critical patient and watching them get to walk out of the door that I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I realised there are more opportunities to educate the public and help them stay away from "those worst days" if I was a nurse. I am going back to school so I can make an impact. I do not want to just impact someone's life when they are sick. I want to teach the members of my community how to care for themselves. I want to give them the tools to be able to manage their chronic conditions and make smart decisions to keep them out of the hospital to begin with. That is how we improve our communities.

The calling to become a nurse has been a constant presence in my life, a whisper that grew into a roar as I witnessed firsthand the impact of compassionate care. Growing up with a parent who served in the military and a Physician's Assistant, I saw the dedication and resilience of those who dedicate their lives to healing. In addition, my immediate family also included a general surgeon, nurse, medical office manager, and a physical therapist. This instilled in me a deep respect for the medical field and a desire to contribute to the well-being of others. My passion for nursing stems from a profound belief in the power of human connection and the ability to alleviate suffering through empathy and expertise. My journey towards a Master's degree in Nursing Science is a testament to my commitment to expanding my knowledge and skills. I am eager to utilize my education to bridge the gap between theory and practice, becoming a skilled and compassionate nurse who can navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. I envision myself as a nurse who not only provides exceptional clinical care but also advocates for patients' rights and empowers them to make informed decisions about their health. My goal is to create a patient-centered approach that prioritizes individual needs and fosters a sense of trust and collaboration. I believe that my nursing education will build on my experience as a critical care paramedic and equip me with the tools to improve the healthcare of others in several ways. Firstly, I will strive to become a master of communication, effectively bridging the gap between medical jargon and patient understanding. I will actively listen to patients' concerns, address their anxieties, and ensure they feel heard and respected. Secondly, I am committed to staying abreast of the latest advancements in healthcare, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance my knowledge and skills. This will allow me to provide evidence-based care that is tailored to individual needs and promotes optimal outcomes. Finally, I aspire to be a leader in the nursing profession, advocating for policies that improve patient safety, promote diversity and inclusion, and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all. My passion for nursing is not merely a career choice but a deeply personal calling. I strive to follow in the footsteps of my family and am driven by the desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, to alleviate suffering, and to empower individuals to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. I am confident that my education and dedication will enable me to become a valuable asset to the healthcare community, contributing to the well-being of patients and the advancement of the nursing profession.

The healthcare industry in the United States is currently in a crisis. When comparing ourselves to other countries, not only is the cost of healthcare for US Citizens a burden for members of every socioeconomic class, but the quality of the healthcare received is also sub-par. In addition, insurance coverage, or lack thereof, creates additional boundaries in receiving the healthcare they need. Every individual who walks into a healthcare facility deserves to receive quality treatment at a reasonable cost. In my experience, it starts at patients' primary doctor's office. Patients cannot get appointments with their primary care provider (PCP) due to staffing shortages and an astronomical patient-to-provider ratio. Patients who would typically have a fast recovery time with simple treatment plans are told to wait for an appointment. While they are waiting, the patient's condition deteriorates, and they become sicker than they would have been had they gotten treatment sooner. This leads to the emergency rooms and hospitals. Patients are forced to be seen in an acute treatment facility due to the time it will take for them to be seen by a PCP, or they have now become so sick from a chronic condition or simple illness that they need in-patient services at a hospital. The high censuses we are seeing in the hospitals are creating not only an unsafe patient care experience for patients due to the high patient-to-provider ratios but also exhausting resources both in personnel and in medical supplies. Nurses and doctors alike are seeing more patients than they are able to effectively manage at one time. As a result, there is a historic number of sentinel events and medical malpractice occurring simply due to exhaustion and unsafe patient conditions. Healthcare providers are unable to give the attention each patient requires due to the mentality of "treat them and street them." The stress of a growing waiting room of patients requires patients to be discharged as quickly as possible instead of ensuring the patient has received the treatment they need to prevent re-admission. All of this stress on healthcare teams is forcing providers to leave the profession. Whether it be a result of a traumatic experience due to the preventable loss of a patient, the burden of a malpractice lawsuit that could have been prevented, or the unmaintainable work-life balance, an increasing number of qualified staff is changing careers, which is debilitating the healthcare industry. Finally, not only are patients not receiving the quality care they expect and deserve, but they are then accruing mountains of medical debt. They are faced with the growing costs of acute-care level treatment without receiving the quality of care that should come with it. When they do have an emergency that requires immediate treatment, they are forced to wait to be seen due to the high census of the facility. I know that I alone cannot change the healthcare industry in our country. I can, however, make a difference in the community in which I live and love by joining the nursing profession and being a leader among my peers by setting an example of how to provide quality, evidence-based, compassionate care to all individuals no matter their race, economic standing, life choices, gender, sexual preference, cultural beliefs, age, or education level. For me, the first step in accomplishing this goal is to go to nursing school. If more like-minded professionals join the healthcare industry, we can change healthcare in America together.

The healthcare industry in the United States is currently in a crisis. When comparing ourselves to other countries, not only is the cost of healthcare for US Citizens a burden for members of every socioeconomic class, but the quality of the healthcare received is also sub-par. In addition, insurance coverage, or lack thereof, creates additional boundaries in receiving the healthcare they need. Every individual who walks into a healthcare facility deserves to receive quality treatment at a reasonable cost. In my experience, it starts at patients' primary doctor's office. Patients cannot get appointments with their primary care provider (PCP) due to staffing shortages and an astronomical patient-to-provider ratio. Patients who would typically have a fast recovery time with simple treatment plans are told to wait for an appointment. While they are waiting, the patient's condition deteriorates, and they become sicker than they would have been had they gotten treatment sooner. This leads to the emergency rooms and hospitals. Patients are forced to be seen in an acute treatment facility due to the time it will take for them to be seen by a PCP, or they have now become so sick from a chronic condition or simple illness that they need in-patient services at a hospital. The high censuses we are seeing in the hospitals are creating not only an unsafe patient care experience for patients due to the high patient-to-provider ratios but also exhausting resources both in personnel and in medical supplies. Nurses and doctors alike are seeing more patients than they are able to effectively manage at one time. As a result, there is a historic number of sentinel events and medical malpractice occurring simply due to exhaustion and unsafe patient conditions. Healthcare providers are unable to give the attention each patient requires due to the mentality of "treat them and street them." The stress of a growing waiting room of patients requires patients to be discharged as quickly as possible instead of ensuring the patient has received the treatment they need to prevent re-admission. All of this stress on healthcare teams is forcing providers to leave the profession. Whether it be a result of a traumatic experience due to the preventable loss of a patient, the burden of a malpractice lawsuit that could have been prevented, or the unmaintainable work-life balance, an increasing number of qualified staff is changing careers, which is debilitating the healthcare industry. Finally, not only are patients not receiving the quality care they expect and deserve, but they are then accruing mountains of medical debt. They are faced with the growing costs of acute-care level treatment without receiving the quality of care that should come with it. When they do have an emergency that requires immediate treatment, they are forced to wait to be seen due to the high census of the facility. I know that I alone cannot change the healthcare industry in our country. I can, however, make a difference in the community in which I live and love by joining the nursing profession and being a leader among my peers by setting an example of how to provide quality, evidence-based, compassionate care to all individuals no matter their race, economic standing, life choices, gender, sexual preference, cultural beliefs, age, or education level. For me, the first step in accomplishing this goal is to go to nursing school. If more like-minded professionals join the healthcare industry, we can change healthcare in America together.