A grandmother’s legacy inspires nursing student

By Jakayla Williams, student in the Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Mercyhurst University

Two experiences in my life inspired me to become a nurse. The rst is the legacy of my later grandmother, Dorris, who was a local R.N. for 28 years, working on the cardiology oors at both Hamot and Saint Vincent hospitals. She also was employed at Stairways Behavioral Health as a psychiatric supervisor.

Despite passing from cancer when I was only 2, my grandmother’s legacy transcended the years through my dad, who shared stories of her as an outstanding nurse, mother, and woman. He encouraged me and my sisters to emulate her ways and, for me, those memories live on as a driving force. Deciding to follow in her footsteps to become a registered nurse is a journey that I’m proud to take. I frequently ask myself how life would be if she was around. I would love to be able to chat with her about her career as a nurse and why she decided to become one.

Secondly, when I gave birth to my daughter via Cesarean section, there was a Certi ed Registered Nurse Anesthetist (C.R.N.A.) present who changed my entire delivery experience. I was extremely anxious and very scared of the procedure, but the C.R.N.A. helped keep me calm. She distracted me from the pain of childbirth and comforted me through a panic attack.

My grandmother may have inspired me to become a registered nurse, but that C.R.N.A. motivated me to seek a career as a C.R.N.A. A er I graduate from Mercyhurst with my A.S.N., I plan to earn my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then apply for the Nurse Anesthesia Program.

In looking toward the future, I believe there are essential qualities, beyond academics, that are required to be a good nurse.

Being organized is fundamental to ensuring e ective patient-centered care. Nurses document vital medical information about patients and are responsible for disbursing medicine. In meeting individual patient’s needs, nurses need to ensure that their patients are treated equally and a orded the same respect, regardless of condition, ethnicity or background.

Another desirable attribute for a nurse is compassion. Overall, this can make a huge di erence in people’s lives due to the vulnerable state they can be in while in your care.

I also believe in advocating for my patients to make sure they are getting the care they need. Leadership skills in nursing are vital because nurse leaders concentrate on the quality of patient care in addition to managing other nurses.