Kate
My mom has told me since I was a little girl that I was meant to do a job that invovled caring for people. She has seen since childhood the joy that I get from caring for others and for making people smile. As I was growing up, she would mention that I should be a doctor, but I knew in my heart that nursing was meant for me. And although I have known that being a nurse was my life-calling, there was one nurse that solidified that my career would be one that I loved.
In high school, my friend and I volunteered at a hospital in our hometown. We both wanted to go into health care careers and knew the imporance of health care experience when applying to colleges. As volunteers, we had limited tasks - we refilled the disposable gloves, the cleaning supplies, organized files for the floor nurses, and ran errands around the hospital. Additionally, some days we would
go into patient's rooms and ask if they needed anything, like combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. These were my favorite days. I loved being able to talk to the patients.
One shift, I went into a patient's room to ask if she needed anything, and immediately, I knew the atmosphere of the room was different. I gazed at the patient in front of me, nervously fiddling with my badge. Incomprehsnible sounds were coming out of her mouth. She was upset and needed to be calm
ed. But what could I do? I was only a hospital volunteer assigned to keep her company. I wanted to help her, but I couldn't understand her.
Soon a nurse entered the room. Approaching the bed, she took the patient's hands, and amid the panic, smiled at her, whispering, "Let's sing." As a chorus of "la-la-la"reverberated throughout the room, my panic ceased. My
admiration, however, grew.
I had always know how important nurses were to patient care and how special a nurse-patient relationship could be. However, it was not until that moment that I had seen it in real life. I was touched by the interaction, and I couldn't explain the excitement I felt to one day become a nurse and help patients.
And so, that is why I chose nursing. I want a career where I can help others, where I can show people my capacity for love, and where I can bring smiles to faces on dark days. As a student in Decker, I feel incredibly lucky that I am on my path to becoming a nurse.
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