An anonymous author once wrote, “A nurse is not what you do. It is what you are…” I am determined to make nursing part of who I am and not simply my career. Through this field, I can reach and impact countless lives. I plan to graduate from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With my BSN, I intend to become a labor and delivery nurse. After gaining nursing experience in a hospital, I will then pursue a master’s degree. While educational goals are crucial to nursing, I also wish to set goals that push who I am as a nurse. I want to care for patients with empathy and compassion. Specifically, I hope to encourage and guide pregnant mothers as they give birth to their babies. I will also have the opportunity to nurture these babies in their very first moments of life. With these goals in mind, I will become a nurse who makes an impactful difference in my patient’s lives. From impacting lives to witnessing miraculous births, labor and delivery nursing is a rewarding career that I am prepared to devote my time to. 

Throughout high school, I have been highly interested in biological sciences, the medical field, and caring for those in need. More recently, I have also discovered my interest in prenatal care and the intrapartum period which led me to labor and delivery nursing. My curiosity was fueled when I volunteered and led as an ambassador at Riverside Regional Medical Center. During this time, I gained hospital experience and also developed an understanding of how things operate in a labor and delivery unit. Each day, the labor and delivery unit brought a new set of challenges that taught me how to adapt and maintain a positive attitude. I became accustomed to challenging situations I may encounter in the future. In addition, I learned how to remain sympathetic and encouraging during these circumstances. Volunteering enabled me to practice specific qualities that will prove necessary to my future career. This experience reinforced my interest and I look forward to making nursing my lifestyle.