This application essay presents the perspective of a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who has worked in pediatric homecare and hospice settings since 2012. The author reflects on the emotional and physical demands of caring for ventilator-dependent children and end-of-life patients, arguing that these experiences have reinforced a commitment to the nursing profession. The essay articulates plans to pursue further education in order to expand the scope of patient care, emphasizes the holistic value of nursing beyond curative medicine, and identifies dedication, skill, and enthusiasm as core personal contributions to the profession.
Since January 2012, I have worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). During that time, I have worked in pediatric homecare, monitoring and caring for children on ventilators and with tracheotomies. My experience also includes hospice care for people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Doing this type of work has greatly influenced my career and my decision to continue my education, because I want to be able to do more and help a greater number of people. I enjoy the work I do — though it can be both physically and emotionally difficult — and I realize that I could expand my practice to cover a much wider scope of patient care. Nurses are in high demand today and are always needed at hospitals and other medical facilities, particularly given the current shortage. With so many skilled nurses leaving the profession through retirement or a desire to change careers, those who are deeply dedicated and committed for the long term are more important than ever.
I plan to remain in the nursing profession for a very long time. I have already proven to myself that I am capable of doing this work, and I know I deeply enjoy helping other people. Through my experiences, I have learned that being a nurse is about more than saving lives. It is also about caring for patients who will not improve, or who are at the end of their lives. These patients deserve respect, dignity, and comfort — three things a nurse can provide regardless of the health challenges they face. The World Health Organization recognizes palliative and end-of-life care as an essential component of comprehensive health services, a value that aligns closely with my own approach to nursing.
With the work I have already done with children and hospice patients, and the work I will be able to do with other patients in the future, I could provide a great deal of help and hope to patients and their families. Nursing is a rewarding career, and it is one that I feel I am very well suited to. Gaining more education and training will only improve my life and the lives of the patients I will have the privilege of helping in the future.
There are a number of ways in which I can contribute to the nursing profession. I see myself continuing to help children and hospice patients, because it is the work I have been doing and the area in which I have developed the most experience. It may not be considered glamorous work, but people who depend on ventilators and those who are reaching the end of their lives need proper care just as much as any other patient. They should not be overlooked simply because they may have a permanent need for assistance or because they are not expected to recover. Too many people view medicine exclusively as a means of restoring health, but it encompasses far more than that.
"Supporting patients and families in specialized settings"
"Long-term nursing goals and role of advanced education"
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