Grad's guide to graduate admissions essays - Colleen Reding 2015

Northeastern university - Bouvé college of health sciences
Medicine/nursing/health

Future of nursing and purpose for applying for graduate study:

I have been privileged to work in a profession that satisfies me, challenges me, and teaches me something new every day. I sincerely love my work and the opportunity I get to make a difference in the lives of patients, their family members, and my coworkers. The field of nursing affords me the opportunity to incorporate my interest in the intricacies of the human body with my passion to care for people in their time of vulnerability. As vital members of the health care team, nurses are in close contact with patients and therefore have the unique opportunity to positively influence the outcomes of a patient’s hospital course. The future holds incredible opportunities in the field of nursing as the health care situation necessitates that it expand to meet the growing demand for high-quality medical care.

I am pursuing a graduate degree from Northeastern University because I am a person who constantly looks for new challenges and opportunities to learn and gain knowledge. I want to grow and expand in the nursing profession. I believe that in pursuing a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia, I can become a frontline person in the care of patients in one of their most vulnerable states—under anesthesia—and I have chosen Northeastern University for its strong curriculum and opportunities through its various clinical sites.

Choice of specialty and role:

My choice to pursue a degree in nurse anesthesia comes from my love of the intensity of the critical care setting. I have spent my nursing career in a neuro ICU and a surgical trauma burn ICU where I thrive on the high intensity and energy. Working in a critical care setting requires the ability to “think on one’s feet,” utilizing critical thinking skills to apply evidence-based principles, often within split seconds when a crisis evolves. I have been praised by preceptors and supervisors for my ability to adapt to situations and to problem solve. I am often the “go-to” person when assignments are made for the most complicated patients on the unit.

I have had the opportunity to shadow multiple nurse anesthetists in the hospital. I have been amazed at the vast amount of knowledge a CRNA must have to be able to care for the patient and manage their anesthesia. As the person who is responsible for monitoring the anesthetized patient, the CRNA needs to be able to critically think and quickly intervene. The CRNA also has the unique opportunity to educate and comfort patients before and after surgery. This is a part of the nursing profession that I value highly as I continuously seek opportunities to incorporate support and education into my care. Nurse anesthesia is a needed and growing field, which I hope to use my knowledge and skills to advance even further.

Future plans:

My immediate future plans are to gain a master’s degree in nurse anesthesia from Northeastern University and upon graduation to gain experience and knowledge working as a CRNA, continuing to care for critically ill patients. My long-term goal is to take my desire to serve and my knowledge in nurse anesthesia to an underprivileged area in the world to help those who may not have the healthcare resources they desperately need. As a teen, and then again as a nursing student, I spent time volunteering in Africa, and I was overwhelmed by the need for medical care and resources. I had the opportunity to assist in medical clinics providing basic health measures like hygiene education and de-worming treatments. I would love to partner with a healthcare team to bring life-saving surgeries to a region where medical services are so rare. I am confident a master’s degree from Northeastern University would help me achieve this dream.