Bobbi Blakeslee, Fuld Fellow (ABS Program)

• Program: ABS Nursing
• Hometown: Alpena, MI
• Favorite Self-Care Activity: Hiking and hugging
• Previous Education: Bachelor of Arts, English Secondary Education, Michigan State University

I knew I wanted to go into the medical field almost immediately after graduating from Michigan State. I was too nervous to return to school at the time and didn’t want to feel I wasted my time on my first degree. Ten years later, I found myself being called back to nursing out of a strong desire to be of love and service to my community. As a new mom, I felt it was especially important to reevaluate my objectives and what I want to teach my daughter about community responsibility. I’m also personally committed to prevention wellness, healthy diet, and exercise. I have seen the benefits in my family’s life and love sharing my experiences with others. 

UB has a wonderful reputation for being a tough, but phenomenal program. I spent some time working in the leadership development portion of health care and UB was affiliated with several of the specialties I came into contact with. The accelerated program was particularly attractive to me because the shortened length encouraged me to return for a second bachelor’s degree where I otherwise may not have considered returning to school.

I am most interest in a critical/acute care setting. The interprofessional relationships and meetings I’ve had an opportunity to observe call to me and my leadership background.  The smaller nurse-to-patient ratio allows for time to focus in on specific patient details while offering support to the family. A large part of my desire to nurse is the ability to feel like a critical player in the care, health and wellness of my patients. The critical care nurses I have shadowed truly managed their patients’ care and built success plans for their patients’ health. My critical care placements were definitely where I felt most at home. That being said, my career path is in its infancy, and I am open to all learning experiences and the idea that I may change my mind in the future.

I grew up in a tiny town in northern Michigan and I love the outdoors. Growing up, I spent a lot of time camping, hiking, and backpacking.  I feel my best when I am outdoors enjoying nature. I enjoy mentoring young adults and helping with resumes, cover letters, interview skills, professionalism, and savings.  I now have a daughter of my own, so today my extracurricular activities mostly include reading things like the Foot Book, giving a lot of high fives, and playing with blocks. It is the best!

I plan on being a hospital nurse in an acute care setting after graduation. I am also applying to the UB [School of Nursing] Early Assurance program in the hopes I can work toward my DNP while gaining field experience. I began this journey knowing it would progress to advanced practice nursing. I also plan to find a community-based organization where I can volunteer my services to help our local community.  When I was young, I thought I needed to travel abroad to make an impact. Now I’m interested in helping the people in my backyard. I am a Buffalo transplant, but it has definitely become my home!

Leaving my previous position to change careers and return to school was a huge decision for our family. This scholarship has made an enormous financial impact. It allows me to pursue my DNP sooner than initially intended and has also helped relieve the strain of being a one income household while I work on my degree. I love the volunteer component of the scholarship as well because it is already encouraging me to make connections within my community. I’m hoping to find a volunteer home to return to as an RN after graduation. I knew in my heart that returning to school was the right thing to do, but I was still nervous. When I received this scholarship, though, it was like a giant neon sign that read, “Hey!  You are exactly where you are supposed to be.”  Life just doesn’t get much better than that.