Hi everyone!  My name is Daniel Vanden Hoek and, like everyone here, will be finishing up the Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Old Dominion University (ODU).  I finished my Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) last year in May and have been a registered nurse for over a year and have lived locally in Newport News.  In the past year, I have worked at Sentara Careplex on the stepdown unit, have volunteered as a Nightingale, and worked on the COVID-19 unit.  I decided to switch over to Riverside’s acute rehabilitation facility due to the high demand of working on the pandemic unit.  I have been working with Riverside for nearly four months and I have not looked back.  My family is local, and I own a rescue beagle named Skye, all of whom have been supportive during my nursing career.  I decided to pursue a BSN because many hiring facilities require nurses to have a BSN or be in the middle of acquiring one.  Ultimately, I want to pursue a DNP because I have a passion for teaching (and helping) new graduates.  The experience I acquired at the bedside in addition to the leadership skills obtained throughout the BSN program have been substantial, and I believe they will benefit my future.