nursing admission essay

nursing admission essay

The Importance of Nursing Admission Essays

1. Introduction

The pursuit for a baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) has been a challenging one for me. I have been in and out of college for the past eight years, attending both Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) programs, because my education has been a journey. However, in the past few years I have become determined to further my education and earn my BSN. The main obstacle for me in the past has been my reluctance to write and lack of preparation for the application process. I am hoping that this essay will show the reader that I can follow directions, answer the questions asked, and tell the story that is my life. The LPN to RN program has been a very challenging experience for me. Prior to the program, I had planned to pursue a non-nursing degree at a senior college. My plans changed, and I applied for the program on a whim, believing that I didn’t have much to lose aside from a career as a waitress. I was shocked and overjoyed when I was accepted. The first two semesters have been a struggle for me personally and academically. I was used to being an ‘A’ student, but now I found myself barely passing. Late nights of studying and early mornings of dragging myself out of bed have taken their toll on me, but I remained determined to continue. This was a promise that I had made to myself and to my children, and I couldn’t give up so easily. I know that if I continue to pursue my education, I will rebuild my confidence and rediscover my passion for learning.

2. Personal Background and Motivation

I completed my undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All throughout my undergraduate career, I had a difficult time settling on a specific career. I always thought I would continue on to dental school, a path I thought would provide a good living and a comfortable life. However, deep inside, I knew I loved working with people and that the dental route was more of a backup plan if I didn’t get into medicine. I also had friends and family discouraging me from medicine and filling my head with the physicians around the country drowning in debt. I decided to take a job as a CNA at a hospital in Madison to gain some exposure to the medical field. After one week of working with a fantastic nurse, the idea of nursing was planted in my mind. I spent the next year volunteering, shadowing physicians, reading books, and looking up information on the professions of a DO, MD, and nurse. What really impressed me with nursing was the amount of contact nurses had with patients and the diverse settings in which nurses worked. I loved how nurses were not confined to an office and how they could travel from a clinic to a hospital to a person’s home. I also loved the holistic mindset of nursing, carrying out the orders of a physician. I fell in love with the profession and dropped the idea of any other type of medical career. With the nurse anesthetist in the back of my mind, I am always motivated and striving to do the best I can in any or all prerequisites for entry into the field of nursing. It is tough to write about the events that have shaped or that are continuing to shape my life. With a younger brother and sister, I was forced to grow up fast and take on more responsibility than most kids my age. This was amplified by our single mother who raised three kids while providing for them alone. Although my childhood and adolescent years were not spent in poverty, we didn’t have much money. I now see the sacrifices my mother made for us when I compare my college life to hers. I am truly grateful to her for helping me through school, and with her persistence and hard work ethic, she has been my root motivation for searching for a career where I can provide for myself and my eventual family, and a career where all my hard work will allow me to do so.

3. Academic Achievements and Experiences

Reflecting on classes and courses that have led up to a decision to apply for nursing school can lead to the discovery that the vast information learned was meant to be redirected toward aiding those in need. Though every bit of education is important, emphasizing the classes that would possibly correlate to being a better nurse, or that have become a sort of overlooked enhancement in the path to nursing, can add a vast amount of credibility to the greatness of education. This might include things like basic science that is used in higher nursing courses, writing and literature to improve communication, and psychology courses that have since then been useful if not always directly related to patient care. This reflection enhances the idea that all along becoming a nurse was meant to be.

Academic achievements and experience hold a significant place in the nursing admission essay. It is a great chance to tell one’s story of hard work, talent, and passion for the goal of becoming a special and highly educated nurse. A good story, which is filled with the details of academics and experiences, is also a great basis for a nurse to carry on through school and into practice. It is important to write such a story highlighting the following: 1) detail-oriented classes/courses, 2) specific learning and the reasons behind attending nursing school, 3) personal growth throughout education to the present situation. The way the story is told and how this has influenced one to pursue a nursing career allows a clear image of who the person is and how they will apply themselves in school and at work.

4. Relevant Skills and Qualities

A definition from Michael (2001) states critical thinking is the disciplined intellectual activity of applying skillful reasoning as a guide to belief or action. A nurse will often find themselves in a situation where they need to apply critical thinking, whether this is to solve a patient care issue or perhaps to determine the best route of administering medication. Knowledge ties in closely with critical thinking as in order to these may be hesitant to do so because of the chance of human error which may create unwanted damage. This being said, it is important to have the courage to act on the decision considering the best interests of the patient. This is different from sheer bravery; courage is being able to do something that frightens one, it demands mental strength and a firmness of will. A nurse may often find themselves in situations where they need to advocate for their patient, or perhaps be a voice for those who do not have the strength to stand up for themselves. Finally, in order to be an effective nurse, one must be self-aware and actively work towards making a positive change to the way they practice. This is known as the process of becoming; the transformation of self in the pursuit of the ideal.

Skills and qualities are divided among a nurse’s job description. An example of this is a nurse working within a surgical ward, who may be required to maintain cleanliness and infection control within both patient and environments. They would be required to have the knowledge and understanding of an array of surgical conditions as well as pre and post-op procedures. Taking this into account, knowledge is a primary skill or quality a nurse must have. Although there things which a nurse may learn ‘on the job’, initially they will need to have an adequate understanding of nursing and healthcare in order to be successful. Knowledge is the foundation for the development of critical thinking, which incorporates making sound decisions about a situation for which no strict rule or guideline exists.

In essence, nursing is a profession which requires an individual to apply a large amount of their gained knowledge into practice, whether this is on a day to day basis or in a life-threatening situation. This being said, in order to be a successful nurse, it is important to have and maintain a variety of skills and qualities whether they are inherent or learned.

5. Conclusion

The exact role and importance of the essays for prospective nursing students, or for those wishing to apply to nursing school, has fluctuated through the years. Currently, they are used for such important decisions that it is crucial to have a high quality essay. Many students, however, are not comfortable sharing their personal lives in writing for fear the assessor will use the information provided to form biases against them. This is a concern that affects all students, but perhaps more so minority student or students choosing to enter a second-degree program and it is an important one to address. Another common concern is the language barrier that affects many non-native speakers who wish to enter nursing programs. Though they may possess the skills and knowledge required to be successful in a program, their English language abilities may prevent them from writing a high quality essay. Unfortunately, the quality of one’s essay can have a large impact on acceptance decisions as it is often used as a criteria for scholarships and job placements. It is an issue to discuss because these applicants will need extra guidance to improve their writing, or alternative methods for assessment. Nursing is a profession which has evolved tremendously in the recent years. The scope of the nursing practice has expanded and there is a great need for more education to provide nurses to fill new roles. The writing of the nursing essay is to allow the student to demonstrate who they are and what they will bring to the health care industry. It is important that the nursing student understands what is being asked of them when writing the nursing essay so that they do not fall victim to the above practices, and that an admissions essay is not an easy opportunity to “weed out the weak.” High quality writing by the student will enhance their opportunity for admission. Admissions need to realize that the essay is an opportunity for students to reveal something about themselves that cannot be found in other areas of the application. This is the key to understanding the importance of the admissions essay.