Making a difference in 2010

My name is Henry Rodriguez Medina, I am 30 years old. I was born in Colombia, but raised in Aruba with my family. My hobby is playing soccer. In my free time; I like to go to the gym so I can stay in good condition. I like music and my dream is to open my own radio station. Music is the thing that makes me feel at my optimum best. Currently, I’m studying in Puerto Rico, at the University Inter American of Puerto Rico. I am a third year nursing student and will have my BSN degree completed in May 2010. I choose nursing because I find it to be an interesting profession, not because the pay is good and the benefits are available. The area of my preference after graduation is to work in the Pediatric unit at the San Jorge Pediatric Hospital. Why is it that I want to go into pediatric nursing? Because my life long dream was to always help children, and I like to be close by them. I don’t like to see children suffer from pain, neglect, or abuse. What I've experienced in my life, I don’t want other children to experience. So the preventative measures that I will take to help others will benefit many to come. That's the major reason why I prefer to work with children and provide therapeutic treatment and services to them. You should have a passion for it, not because others are doing it or because your family have all been studying nursing . No, you have to make your own choice; nursing and providing care to children and others is a rewarding and amazing profession.

I am Malika James a 22 year old, junior. I'm currently a nursing student at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico working on my BSN degree. I'm originally born and raised in the US Virgin Islands. I want to acknowledge my loving parents Alia and Bernard James who have guided and supported me throughout my studies. Prior to transferring to IAU, I studied at the University of the Virgin Islands where I was pursuing a bachelors degree in biology. After my sophomore year I realized that studying biology was not what I wanted to do because the final outcome was not what I perceived myself doing. Many that have graduated either choose to further their studies doing research, going to medical school, or working in a lab. I am a more technical person that likes to do hands on work and integrating my knowledge to help others; which resulted in me changing my major to nursing. The benefits of working as a nurse is beyond amazing, there are many roles that nurses play such as teacher, educator, advocate, collaborators, and much more. Is there any other field of study that you can think of that would mold you into a respectable individual, that also gives you an opportunity to better the health care of others and create individuality among your peers?
After I graduate, this coming year, May 2010 I see myself furthering my studies and working on my masters in midwifery after one year of clinical experience.That is after studying and taking my NCLEX. I have so much that I want to do and it seems as if we have so little time but I'm working on my patience. Presently, I'm a military cadet and a nursing student because after I graduate and commission I'm planning on becoming an Army nurse with a rank of a 2nd lieutenant. Which is an honor, that is working toward something that causes a change in our society and benefits the population on a whole. In relation to my goals, I'm a few climbing blocks away but this coming graduating year the blockage that has been preventing me from getting where I want to be will be permanently removed. As a nurse, you will learn that team work and collaboration are the key attributes that are going to help you throughout your entire career. There is no "I" in team; the faster we realize that we have to depend on each other, the strong we will become . I live by the motto one team one fight, no individual can do it on their own.

My name is Melinda Fontaine. I am 28 years, born and raised in the beautiful Virgin Islands. Currently, I am a senior nursing student at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. My aspiration to become a nurse stemed from a past experience; having my grandmother in the hospital was a challenge but it felt as if a period in my life to help me make a decision on the focus of my life aspirations. Her every need was dependent on the nurses and nursing assistants. They cared for her therapeutically and efficiently; there was no doubt in my mind that they didn't do their jobs effectively. Most times it was only the nurses that were there at her bedside and she expressed satisfaction with the nurse's care. Ultimately, my grandmother died in the hospital after one month stay. I am very satisfied to have made the decision I did because it has mold me into a respectable and caring person, I am today. My decision to become a registered nurse have been a personal reward.
My immediate focus is graduating with my BSN degree and taking the nCLEX . I plan on beginning my career at the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital in St.Thomas. After about two years of experience I plan to go back to school to obtain my master's in geriatric care.