Ever since completing my BSN, I have wanted to become a nurse practitioner because it has been my dream to further my career, to challenge myself, to learn more, and to take every opportunity available to become the best nurse I can be. Having the mindset of a beginner is important to me because it reminds me to ask questions, seek out learning opportunities, and have an open mind. Growth, while it can be uncomfortable and difficult, is the key to success. Along with this beginner's mindset, I also bring experience, persistence, and hard work. These last ten years have professionally and personally prepared me for this next step in my journey.
I started my career in my hometown of Pennsylvania at Hershey Medical Center, in 2006, in a cardiovascular
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This was undoubtedly the most difficult experience I have ever gone through. Relying on my family, friends, and faith was the only way I was able to survive. While it is still extremely painful, this experience has taught me so much about life, love, loss, and perseverance. The empathy for others struggling through a difficult time is something so deep in my heart; the passion for making the most of your life in whatever circumstances pushes me in directions I never imagined. This tragedy taught me to make the most of my life, to chase joy, to always have an attitude of gratitude, and to believe in myself. I carry these virtues in the challenges I face today. Understandably, this experience stalled my goal of becoming a nurse practitioner because at that time in my life, I was solely concentrating on surviving. I continued working in the cardiac step-down unit until in December of 2011 when our unit merged with the cardiothoracic intensive care unit. Training for the ICU was intense and challenging. Around the same time, I had started dating and quickly fell in love with an old high school friend living in California. Excited, I packed my bags and