3. How is being a Christian affecting your life now?

Being a Christian is one of the main reasons that I am committed to a career in a profession whose purpose is to benefit other people instead of one of the many easier and more lucrative) careers in fields that relate more to goals devoid of any altruistic component. Especially in light of my experience when I believe God spared my life, consider myself very fortunate to have the wonderful life, family, and opportunities that are available to me. If God did truly change the course of my life on that day, I know it was to inspire me to accomplish something more meaningful in my life than accumulating material possessions or achieving arbitrary goals that are meaningless in comparison to a career where I hope to be able to help alleviate the suffering and misfortune of others on a regular basis.

4. How do you maintain your personal relationship with God?

Generally, I don't really think of my relationship with God as one that requires maintenance on my part the way many human relationships do. I know that God understands my thoughts and feelings as well as my fears, desires, and my needs at all times. God knows that I have already accepted his love and I know that God will always give me the opportunities to use my judgment to apply my Christian values.

I have mixed feelings about prayer, because I realize that God already knows all of my thoughts and feelings the instant they occur. In this regard, the act of praying to God seems unnecessary; however, I do still pray regularly. Even though my prayers do take the form of a "conversation" with God, my prayers might be considered more of a type...

How do you expect God to use you in nursing?
In nursing, I expect to have continual opportunities to affect the lives of patients and their families in my decisions and in my ability to overcome personal obstacles to maintaining the highest possible quality of care to my patients. I expect that God will always allow me to exercise my free will to make personal and professional decisions, but once those decisions are made, I would expect and hope that God will assist me by giving me strength, judgment, and courage whenever my own personal attributes fall short of my patients' needs. I don't expect God to make the same effort on my behalf in matters concerning only my personal accomplishments, but God will not allow me to fail my patients' by virtue of any of my personal shortcomings.

6. State why you wish to enter the nursing profession.

The nursing profession is one of the best opportunities I can imagine to earn a living in a way that will allow me to contribute to the substantial health and welfare of other people. In addition to the ordinary professional satisfaction of vocational achievement, nursing in particular offers the opportunity to accomplish those goals in an environment where "success" is not just a measure of personal goals, but a genuine and essential service to fellow human beings and children of God.

At the same time, I have a genuine intellectual interest in medical science and technology that I hope will sustain my enthusiasm for learning and for professional achievement in the field throughout my career, long after the novelty of the experience wears off.