Year in Review

This year was my second year in the Bachelors of Nursing program, and to some it is considered the hardest year in the program. I had to dedicate a lot of time studying to make sure I fulfill my dreams of being a nurse. This year I took a job as a Student Nursing Associate at the OSU Medical Center. I work on many different floors of the hospital and it gives me an idea of what I will be doing as a nurse. This year I was also the Philanthropy Director of The OSU Triathlon Team. This challenged me to lead my team to better the community. During the beginning of the spring semester I got mononucleosis and realized how important health is to an individual. Each morning it was a struggle to get the energy to get out of bed and get to class. Sometimes when I would get out of bed I would faint. This experience made me a better person and definitely a better nurse because I now understand the struggle on a smaller level of what some people have to face every day with health concerns.

Service Engagement

I was the Philanthropy Director of the Ohio State University Triathlon Club. Through this I got a better understanding of how to motivate people to volunteer and participate in the community. I find that, in general, people want to volunteer they just need someone to tell them what they can do to help and be a part of the community.

Leadership Development

I have taught Spinning classes since I was 16 years old. This has allowed me to be a leader because I stand in front of class and give direction. I have to plan the class and playlist. When in class I have to assess for potential threats of injury and try to encourage improvement in my students without being disheartening. Leading student has made me more prepared to lead patients in the hospital, especially during patient education moments. My leadership style involves getting on the same level as my patients/student. It is not a conductive environment if they feel threatened or controlled.

Academic Enrichment

My major is nursing and as part of this I didn’t have room in my schedule for GE’s due to the rigorous course schedule. The classes I have taken have prepared me for nursing because they have allowed me to encompass the full experience of nursing. I have had both classes in the classroom setting and classes in the hospital.

Original Inquiry

I contributed to a creative performance on April 4, 2016. I was part of a free dance performance put on in Cincinnati as a way to better the community through art. I had to go to practice performances for many weeks and train by myself to be prepared for this event.

Global awareness

I completed a cultural awareness module as part of my therapeutic communications class on April 11, 2016. In this module we discussed how to approach different cultures and stigmas associated with them.

Health and Wellness

As my health and wellness event I tried a new workout class. I went to a self-defense class that was high in cardio in early March. I try to get back as much as I can to further participate in bettering my health and wellness.

Major Service Project

be the match

 

My major service project was taking on the elected position of Philanthropy Director of The Ohio State University Triathlon Team. My job was to organize service projects for the team. Initially I would decide what service projects that team would pursue and then I would have to get in contact with a coordinator for the organization we want assist. I would then have to coordinate times with the team and get members to join the project as well.

The team pursued many small projects but my biggest effort this year was with the Be the Match organization. This is an organization that tries to register people on the National Bone Marrow Registry.  Many people do not realize that for many types leukemia and lymphomas a chance at a cure does exist and that is through bone marrow registration. At the drive we would talk with potential students and faculty that would want to get on the registrar. As a team we would tell them about the risk, process, and benefits of being a bone marrow donor. If they decided that wanted to sign up to be on the registrar we got a cheek swab of DNA and information on how to contact the individual.

Being the Philanthropy Director was a privileged because it allowed me to guide my team to better the community. I have learned that many people want to volunteer they just don’t know where or how and sometimes it feels like volunteers are in the way. It was an amazing experience seeing the appreciation of the organizations we helped and we did not feel unless at any point in time. Nothing could have prepared me for the work I had to put in as the director but in end the community became a better place because of it.

Informational Interview

I interview Teresa Di Meo who is an RN and a nurse practitioner. My goal is to become a nurse practitioner in the future.

How long did you work before going to graduate school?
“I worked for one year before deciding to go to graduate school. I did one year of non degree graduate classes to just make sure I was ready to work full time and take classes.”

-What area of NP did you get your degree?
“I did the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program/Primary Care at Ohio State and graduated in the 2nd Post Masters Program. This was in 1995 when OSU was first developing the NP program. My first Masters degree was in 1993 as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). After I graduated, they started the NP program and they allowed 2 classes to complete additional classes and graduate Post Masters as NPs. Even though OSUWMC didn’t have a job description for NPs, I completed the program. It wasn’t for 14 more years until I was hired in an actual NP title at OSUWMC. That was from 1995 to 2009.
When I completed the program they did not have an Acute Care Program as they do now. If they did, I would have elected for Acute Care since I worked inpatient at Ohio State Medical Center and this would have been beneficial to my role at that time.”

-How long did it take you to complete your education?
“5 years undergraduate and 6 years graduate between the 2 different programs. ”

Did you work while completing your education? “Full time”

-What advice would you give someone who is thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner?
“If you have the dream, desire and dedication to become an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) then you should go for it! I created the job that I wanted and the job satisfaction that I get every day going to work makes it all worth it. Know that the sky is the limit and it is all that you put into it.”

-What was the toughest class for you?
“Two tough classes for me! Pharmacology and Pathophysiology”

-What do you think the outlook for an NP degree is in the near future?
“I think now and the future holds great things for APNs. I love my job and feel needed and respected in my role. The future may be the DNP role which is the NP at the Doctorate Level.”

 

This interview allowed me to glimpse into the future if I get my graduate degree. It was great to get a feel for Teresa’s enthusiasm for her career and it left me feeling excited about my future.