It was right before I started college, I didn’t want to apply for any schools until I felt I had a real sense of direction for my life. I remember seeing an advertisement that read “Man Up…And Be a Nurse.” The statement was subtle, yet powerful to me, so much so that I began to explore nursing as a possible career path. I guess I find it interesting so many nurses tell me that they felt “called into nursing.” Personally, I just don’t feel that’s how it was for me. I’m proud to say that I choose nursing. I choose it for what it represents and how it aligns with my values. Nurses hold a tremendous influence over their patients and communities alike, and that requires a great sense of maturity, knowledge and responsibility, and I’m intrigued by that. I also shadowed several nurses and talked with students who were already studying nursing. Long story short, I was impressed by what I found. I looked up to those individuals highly, but I had developed a whole a new-found respect for them after seeing what they do on a daily basis as nurses.
I chose UW Oshkosh College of Nursing because it is a very well-respected school in the state of Wisconsin. They are a researched based institution and structure their curriculum based upon evidence that has yielded the greatest results for students’ learning. They are diverse in both gender and ethnicity, and they offer many opportunities to get involved both on campus and in the community. It’s rare to find nursing students outside of the Oshkosh program who can understand you when you talk about topics such as QSEN, IHI, or IOM. I feel blessed to have spent my time at Oshkosh.
After graduation, my hope is to continue my education though avenues provided by my future career in the Navy. I’m currently looking into CRNA School or possibly becoming a NP; the Navy has competitive programs for each of these. If everything works out, I’ve seriously considered making a career of the Navy. Above all, it really excites me to see all the possibilities and opportunities that I have with nursing. It’s like a springboard into almost any area of healthcare, nursing is a great foundation. Either way, I think it’s important for nurses to continually seek ways to advance their education.