Many, after asking my reason for choosing a nursing major, expect a response along the lines of: “I would like to help others” or “I am passionate about saving lives.” However, in all honesty, the truth proves to be much more. As a nurse, I would want to help people die. The medical field certainly has limitations and some patients reach those in death. In this time of life, the defining moment of its end, it takes a brave and courageous soul to help someone let go of everything they have known. This event requires someone who is humble, compassionate, and gentle enough to care for these patients. From the beginning of my research into the nursing field, areas such as hospice and geriatrics have inspired me to contribute such qualities to this occupation. My enduring goal as a nurse is to provide excellent care in areas that are lacking the staff and quality attention needed to care for terminal patients. Nursing handles two extremes: life and death. I am dedicated and passionate about sacrificing myself to assist patients in both areas. In nursing, we are given the task of becoming comfortable in uncomfortable situations. On one hand, I would contribute persistence and medical skills in order to help a patient survive. On the other, I would contribute the bravery needed in meeting death.

My desire for treating such patients did not develop on its own. My experiences in life collectively influenced my decision of nursing by providing me with opportunites for inspiration and challenges. I was raised with my grandmother, a retired nurse of 50 years, telling me stories of the rewarding and challenging experiences in her work. As a nurse in 1955, my grandmother encountered the polio epidemic and was trained in operating iron lungs. Despite her descriptions of horrific polio cases, I think “This is the true meaning of nursing: to be a part of something larger than yourself.” I begin to wonder what future patients I am preparing for today. I understand that nursing school is more than preparing for the next exam, but instead challenging yourself to prepare for a profession. Most importantly, it is a time to prepare for the patients that will someday critically need you.

I am eager to continuously devote my compassion, motivation, and bravery to the nursing field. The next three years of my college career prepares me for a lifetime. In the span of my existence, I hope to effectively utilize the skills I have developed in school to help others between the bridge of life and death.