A woman from the Ural Mountains of Russia who came to America at the age of twenty, I married and made my permanent home in XXXX, where I am now raising my children as a divorced mom. Now thirty-nine and in my last year of your BSN program at XXXX University, I hope to continue at XXU to earn my DNP Degree. XXU and the surrounding community are our home. I feel very strongly that I will be able to excel as a DNP student with the support of our local community, friends, neighbors, familiar surroundings, etc. I like to think of myself as something of a Russian ambassador to the XXXX Community, and I daydream of someday attending to Russian tourists who find themselves in need of medical attention while on a visit to XXXX as a DNP serving at one of our local hospitals.
I have always known that caring for people makes me the happiest. Nursing school has confirmed this. I am unsure why I earned my first degree at GCU in 2001 in finance. I was newly arrived in America, young, searching. I was a stay-at-home mom within a few years, learning and perfecting my English and pursuing intellectual interests, mostly psychology. My three-week rotation at XXXX Behavioral Health was my defining moment when I dedicated my professional life to psychiatric nursing, helping people who are struggling with mental issues by providing them with the tools to lead happier, more fulfilling lives, realizing their full potential by making better choices and building more healthy relationships. I learned during rotations that I adore my patients, meeting and communicating with them, caring for them, and working as a team with doctors, CNAs, therapists, and other nurses.
One of our patients at XXXX Behavioral, a 15-yr old girl, severely depressed, anorexic, and suicidal, stands out in my mind. She was admitted for a suicide attempt following a break-up with her boyfriend. What bothered me the most was that, at least from all appearances, she came from a perfect, stable, "normal," loving, and caring family. I thought of my 9-yr old daughter at home. Nothing helped this girl until a nurse practitioner put her on anti-depressant medication after completing a mental assessment. The next time I saw her, she was a different person, taking her meds and faithfully attending and even enjoying group therapy.
My children and nursing school have not left me much time to volunteer, but I do work with two different food banks and have read to preschoolers. Most recently, I joined the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, and I hope to make a positive impact over the long term on an extraordinary little girl who has come into my life.
Thank you for considering my application.