The profession of nursing requires dedication, compassion, and a commitment to learning. The Accelerated Nursing Program at the Lienhard School of Nursing at Pace University will allow me to engage in the scientific inquiry that I relish, while at the same time preparing me for the challenge of helping difficult patients recover from their illnesses and injuries. My passion for learning started while I was still an undergraduate student at SUNY Stony Brook, and I had the opportunity to work as a Library Assistant where I learned how to acquire the most up to date and relevant information while assisting other students with their research projects.
In my position at Allegiant Home Care I had to perform many duties to further the health of the patient. Monitoring patients vital signs and mental status, along with assisting with activities of daily living, were necessary in order to compile reports for the patient’s health care team. Assisting patients with simple tasks like basic hygiene and going to the toilet, I was often in a position to collect routine samples to aid the physicians in diagnosing and treating illness. Another area that I became adept in is nutrition as I was often called upon to do the grocery shopping and I came to understand the different diets prescribed to the patient. Due to the patients frailty it was also my duty to maintain and attend to the general safety and cleanliness of the environment. Under instruction I provided the patients with their medications, all while maintaining accurate records of everything that was performed during the day. The work could be very demanding, but also rewarding as I watched patients recover and families become relieved by the care provided to their loved one.
Since becoming a Home Health Aid, I branched out to several other healthcare domains and had the opportunity to volunteer in several capacities such as: in a nursing unit, as a pharmacy assistant, and as a Blood Donor Registration Assistant and Safety Monitor. Volunteering in the nursing unit at the Cobble Hill Health Center I saw first hand how nurses have to take charge of dynamic health situations. Ultimately, it was by volunteering at the Respiratory Care Unit at the Stony Brook University Hospital and Medical Center that I came to realize that I wanted to pursue nursing.
Under the supervision of a learned nurse, the excitement of the Emergency Room becomes orderly and structured. Assisting with triage tasks such as transporting patients to various medical studies and interventions, and insuring patient well being, I help transition patients along through the hospital. In this position I witness first hand the importance of a warm disposition as I sought to greet and direct patients as well as assisting them with information or communication problems. Another task that I am dedicated to at Brookdale is providing comfort and support to the patients and their families. The support is important in order for the ill person to successfully transition back into the home from the stay at the hospital.
My experiences have introduced me to the wide and diverse field of patient care and have cemented my resolve to become a nurse. I have always learned from my mistakes as I strive to improve the quality of care that is delivered to the ill or incapacitated. I am ready to provide excellent patient care and contribute fully to the art of nursing, and my exposure to the work has only made my resolve stronger.
