Accelerated nursing degree program funding

After a long struggle I have been accepted to the Oakland University accelerated nursing degree program.  I am excited to start this new endeavor but unfortunately I do not know how to fund out.  Below is the essay I submitted to receive my seat in this program.  It explains the challenges I have overcome and why this program is my dream.  Please anything you can give is greatly appreciated, this is a very difficult program to get in to and I do not want to give up my seat just because I do not have the funds.

Donna Wilk Cardillo explained it very well in her book, A Daybook for Beginning Nurses, the reason I want to become a nurse, “When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don't remember me nor I them.  But I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind that is my career in nursing.”  My own personal health struggles, along with my years of working and going to school are what have shaped my passion for the health care industry.  I look forward to a challenging career in nursing where I can combine my life, work and educational experiences to live out my dream of helping others.

My journey in the health care industry started in high school when I participated in a health occupation course.  Near the end of my senior year, I was involved in an honors project that allowed me to shadow a doctor in oncology at Mt. Clemens General Hospital.  I was privileged to meet many of the oncology patients and immediately felt inspired by how the doctor and medical team’s work positively affected these peoples’ lives.  The doctor recognized my early interest in the field, and it was he who first suggested that I consider a career in nursing.  I took this suggestion to heart, and decided to pursue a career in the medical field.

I decided to pursue a degree in medical assisting to further my education.  The medical assisting program solidified my interest in health care, and gave me my first hands-on experience and exposure working with patients. After completing my medical assisting program, I worked for two years in a gynecologist’s office, Dr. Bhavnagri at Gynecology & Holistic Care.  I was quickly promoted from receptionist to a dual role as lead medical assistant and office manager.  My job provided a lot of interaction with other health care professionals, and several of these people took notice to the work I was doing for Dr. Bhavnagri and his office.  The dedication I showed to my work earned me a recommendation for a new position as an administrative and clinical assistant for a top neurosurgeon, Dr. Lucia Zamorano at the Michigan Brain & Spine Surgery Center.  I started working for Dr. Zamorano in March 2012, and in that short amount of time, I have become more inspired than ever.  I am now certain that I am meant to be a nurse, and that I’d like to continue to be a part of a neurosurgery team.

My decision to become a nurse is not solely based on work and school experience.  When I was twenty years old, I was diagnosed with a cerebral arteriovenous malformation.  This is a serious neurological condition, and I had to have a craniotomy to correct the defect.  The malformation was successfully resected, but I suffered immensely from post-operative complications which made the next few years of my life very difficult.  After the surgery, I went through an intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy program.  The most difficult part in all of it was having to learn the simple basics of life again.  I had to relearn how to cook, how to clean, and how to complete the majority of daily living skills that many people, myself included, take for granted.  Without the focused and compassionate care of my treating medical team, I’m not sure I would’ve made it through the difficult rehabilitation process.  The support, dedication and skill of the doctors, nurses and therapists was as important to me emotionally as it was physically.

The therapy program also helped me regain my focus on school and my goal to work in health care.  After my surgery, my ability to concentrate had decreased, and I struggled with academics.  I was once the type of student that did not have to study hard because everything “just came naturally” after attending lecture.  Suddenly, I was finding it hard just to sit through classes and was feeling frustrated when the material wasn’t making sense to me.  Therapy gave me the skills to teach myself new material, and the encouragement that I was still a capable student, even if it took me a little longer than before.  I also struggled with my appearance during that time; the surgery had left me bald and with a large scar spanning half of my head.  I remember every day what I had to tell myself when I looked in the mirror, and how much strength and support it took to conquer my new insecurities with school and with my reflection.  I realized the importance of advanced medical care because I lived it.  

My own experience taught me to be an empathetic caregiver, and a career in nursing will provide an opportunity for me to share the skills, compassion, and encouragement patients need on their road to recovery.        

Although I love being a clinical assistant, I continue to yearn for more.  I want the opportunity to take my education and experience to the next level.  I want to be accepted into the Oakland University accelerated second baccalaureate degree BSN program so I can have the chance to share my experience and knowledge with others and to contribute to the healing process of my patients as a registered nurse.