Melissa Hiscock, BSN, RN, CWOCN, OCN, CPPS, Patricia K. McGee Nursing Faculty Scholarship

• Hometown: Machias, NY
  
• Favorite Self-Care Activity: Jogging with my dog 
  
• Undergraduate Education: D'Youville College
  Current Program: PhD in Nursing

There are a few reasons. I wanted to have the option of local in-person support. I was very nervous about returning to college after 12 years and unsure if I would be able to adjust to the online environment. I also have great pride in the Buffalo community and am very proud to be attending UB SON. I knew some of the faculty before I applied to the program. I was inspired by their passion for nursing science and nursing research. I wanted to be among them and to learn from them.

Pressure injuries in the oncology patient; pressure injuries at end of life; and health disparities.  

I am passionate about wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nursing and the impact the associated diseases have on patients' quality of life. Having a PhD will provide the necessary skills to further the profession and WOC nursing science to ultimately improve our patient outcomes.   

It is stressful to be working full-time, be a mom, and a wife, and a student and myself. The scholarship removes the financial stress of finishing my studies. I also look forward to teaching. I am passionate about teaching and inspiring young nurses to further their education or dig deeper and ask questions about their practice. I look forward to teaching them how to answer those questions and helping them master their own practice.