For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to teach. I initially became interested in the University at Buffalo School of Nursing doctoral program based on the convenience of an online program. I was also drawn to the additional courses in learning and education offered to supplement the curriculum, and several of my colleagues highly recommended the program. However, through the initial application and interview process, everyone I spoke with was so kind, compassionate, and supportive — I knew immediately this program would be the perfect fit for me.
As a critical care nurse, I see the toll moral distress and burnout take on those within our profession. Extensive literature supports interventions for identifying, treating, and managing burnout once it occurs, but there is less literature exploring a proactive approach to burnout: prevention. As a nurse educator, I am interested in exploring whether nursing students are taught enough about self-care, stress management, and mental health — are we, as nurse educators, adequately preparing future nurses for the world they will be practicing in after graduation and licensure? Is it possible that we are not providing them with the foundational tools to care for themselves, which they will need to be successful in the workforce? I am curious to learn more about the value of using an interdisciplinary approach by incorporating yoga, music, journaling, aromatherapy, meditation and other alternative modalities.
Earning a doctoral degree in nursing will improve my practice and understanding, but it will also allow me to bring this growth and disseminate what I’ve learned through this experience back to my colleagues for the benefit of our students. With this opportunity, I hope to positively impact the practice of future nurses and help them learn to encounter the stressful situations they will face with strength, grace and resilience. My goal is to positively affect patient outcomes through this work by reducing burnout and promoting the overall health of our clinician workforce.
I am honored to have been offered this fellowship opportunity — I am pursuing a PhD in nursing with a focus on education to further my knowledge, curiosity, and development as a scholar. This will allow me to pursue my doctoral degree full-time and facilitate a more intense experience with the research process. I look forward to my time at UB and collaborating with and learning from diverse faculty and colleagues.
