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Nursing: Caring for the Whole Person

At 14, I realized that I wanted to be a nurse. My grandmother, who worked in a dermatology office at the time, brought me into a ‘take your daughter to work day’. I had been interested in the medical field before, which is why she invited me to come with her, however, I didn’t feel called to any career within the medical field yet. When I watched my grandmother do her job, I instantly felt that nursing was my calling. With each patient she saw, I felt the amount of care and love she gave into each interaction and I realized that I wanted to make an impact on the world working as a nurse. I later acknowledged that although there are many things I love about nursing, I chose it because of the ability to help others through their worst times.

As I continued to contemplate my career options in high school, the decision grew clearer. I realized I needed a career in which I could make a difference and form meaningful relationships. Ironically, going into nursing school, I was terrified to talk to my patients. I was so worried they would see right through me and the fact that I didn’t really know what I was doing. As I have progressed through nursing school, these interactions got easier, and I finally experienced the meaningful interactions that I watched my grandmother perform so many years before. One situation that comes to mind is when I was caring for a cancer patient during a clinical placement. I sat and talked to him for hours about his hopes, dreams, and experiences. This was amazingly enlightening and the experience opened my eyes to one of the aspects of nursing that I now find so rewarding. I realized that many people not only need healing of their physical body but also need a supporter standing behind them during their hard times.

When I was in my first nursing class, we learned that nurses are patient advocates. I didn't quite understand what that meant at the time, as I had not had any interactions with patients yet, however, it has grown to be one of the most treasured aspects of my future career. I saw amazing nurses advocating for their patients ' best interests time and time again so that they could get the proper care they deserve. I believe that everyone deserves dignity and respect, especially when they are ill. Once I become a nurse, I strive to be the best advocate for my patients I can be. I want to be able to do the best I can for them in their short time with me and provide them the dignity and respect they deserve. Sometimes we forget that patients are people too, so one of the reasons I am going into nursing is to make sure that all patients are cared for and their wishes are met.

Finally, I aspire to be a nurse to holistically care for my patients. In other words, I want to be involved in healing the whole person, rather than just the disease they have. A lot of people are drawn to nursing because they get to help people get better physically, however, as I have learned more and more about caring for patients holistically, I have been even more drawn to nursing. I am passionate about caring for every aspect of a person through physical care, lending an ear to listen to their feelings, providing support, and providing them with resources for anything they may need, even if it is not directly related to their hospitalization.

Ever since that day when I was 14, my love for nursing has been growing and growing. This has continued through my nursing school journey, even through the trials and tribulations. I believe wholeheartedly that I will find fulfillment in my future nursing career, wherever I end up. As I move into my senior year of college, I am more excited than ever to join the wonderful community of nurses who work every day to help their patients heal.