During my time as an undergraduate here at the University at Buffalo, I knew I wanted to go into the medical field but was unsure of which path was right for me. I explored the possibility of medical school or physician assistant programs, but nothing felt right. During my effort to find where I fit in the health care field, I shadowed countless doctors, volunteered in hospitals and became a New York State certified EMT. It wasn’t until my time volunteering in the Pediatric Emergency Room at Orange Regional Medical Center (ORMC) that I became interested in nursing.
Being exposed to the type of care a nurse provides was truly inspiring. I watched nurses laugh, cry, advocate and educate their patients on numerous occasions. They had the most inspiring patient care impact that I had ever seen. The nurses at ORMC thought differently than any other health care professional I worked with, because they combined the science of medicine with the art of caring about their patients in a unique way.
I chose nursing because I want to be the provider who knows my patients' stories and their likes and dislikes. I want to advocate for my patients and, most of all, when they leave the hospital, I want them to know that somebody cared about them while they were there.
I completed both of my undergraduate degrees here at UB. I have a lot of pride for UB. I’ve met some of the most amazing faculty and students here. The UB School of Nursing has a reputation of being one of the best nursing programs in New York State. I chose to come back to UB to give back to the community that has served me for so many years during my undergraduate journey.
I don’t have a specialty that I can pick out among the rest yet. There are so many parts of what nurses get to do that excite me. I am definitely very interested in pediatrics and emergency medicine because of my time at ORMC and my experience as a New York State certified EMT.
I also am very interested in psychology and mental health for personal reasons and because of all of the intriguing psychology classes I took during undergrad. In addition, I am drawn to the acute/critical care specialty because of the intimate care environment. My hope is that during my clinicals I will find a place that feels just right.
During my undergraduate years at UB, I became involved with an organization called Leadership House. This organization provided volunteer work, community improvement and campus involvement. I had the privilege to serve as the resident advisor and a mentor for this organization.
I was also a teaching assistant, resident assistant and community assistant at UB. My time at this university has been filled with amazing experiences, and I am so excited to continue them with the School of Nursing.
After I graduate, I would like to get experience as an RN in whatever specialty I choose. In the future, I would like be a nurse practitioner.
In addition, I would like to explore the possibility of education in my future. I currently serve as a substitute teacher at Sweet Home Central School District, and this experience has furthered my passion for working with children and has sparked an interest in possibly teaching in the future.