By Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ
Uchenna “Uche” Oluoha, RSCJ, is a full-time student in the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program at the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science at the University of San Diego. To meet Uche is to encounter a grace-filled, joyful self-giver, who seeks to serve those facing poverty and catastrophic illness. Having practiced nursing for 30 years, Uche recently decided to pause and enter into rigorous academic study now so that in the future she can work with others to optimize health, promote healing, and alleviate suffering through a reflective and informed practice.
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When asked why she is pursuing this degree, Uche simply said that she seeks to serve people with compassion and intelligence. She believes that at the core of her identity as a Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) and as a healthcare professional is the call to accompany God’s people as they navigate serious health challenges. It is in the moment of accompanying those who are fragile and often frightened that Uche experiences the integration of being a registered nurse and an RSCJ most profoundly. This integration is very important to Uche. “I am an RSCJ. I am a nurse. Soon I will be a family nurse practitioner with a doctorate. SOCIET Y OF THE SACRED HEART, UNITED STATES — CANADA
Photos © by Jerry Naunheim
Woman of the Heart
