Leadership in Healthcare by Amie

Leadership in Healthcare by Amie - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

Most people think of a leader as someone who has a title. For example, an elected class president, senator, cheer captain, or manager. However, I believe our leaders in school and in life are everyday leaders. They are the students and workers who show up every day. Our leaders are the young men who open doors for others. They are the young women who stand up for their friends. They are the people who stop and pick up trash in the parking lot, even if it isn’t theirs. They are the classmates to help someone who is struggling. They are the co-workers who lend a hand on someone else’s duties, even when it is not their job.

Although I have taken on leadership roles in my activities, job, and volunteerism, the best way to lead is by doing the right thing even when no one is looking. I try to follow the example of my peer leaders in this way. That is the type of leader I try to be. I will carry these traits with me as I pursue a career in healthcare. I will open the doors. I will stand up for my others. I will do my best, even when no one is looking.

From a young age, I wanted to be involved in healthcare. I considered medical research, pharmaceuticals, and pediatrics. I was so convinced I would enter the world of medicine one way or another, so I took as many science, medical, and health-related courses as I could.

The summer of 2023 opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities in the world of nursing. I volunteered at our local hospital. I worked with many departments, including nurses, support staff, surgeons, and CRNA's. During my time at the hospital, I was in the operating room and viewed over 10 surgeries.

The people I worked with inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. Watching them do the right thing, day in and day out, always putting the patient first…that is the type of healthcare professional I aspire to be. In a time when healthcare is under criticism, we must refocus on real people and real communities that need quality medical care. Nurses are the leaders of healthcare. I will gain the knowledge and skills needed to become a leader in my chosen field.

I am drawn to the responsibilities of nurses and CRNA's. They are skilled, observant, and detail-oriented. Nurses play one of the most important roles in quality patient care. They are the eyes, ears, and voice for not only the patient but also for the doctors. They directly apply what they have learned in the classroom every single day to improve the lives of others.

When I learned areas of the United States are experiencing shortages in nursing, it clicked for me. I want to enter nursing starting in the Fall of 2024. There are many opportunities and specializations within the nursing field. The chances to truly make a difference in healthcare are endless.

As an aspiring nurse, I wonder what can be done to help solve the nursing shortage. My research points to two main factors that are contributing to the lack of nurses. The areas that should be addressed are the growing population of aging staff and overly stressful working conditions. Advances and implementation of technology can improve both issues.

First, many existing nurses are reaching the age of retirement. This makes the shortage worse because it reduces the existing workforce. There are programs in place to recruit new nurses to the field, but it currently is not enough to offset the staffing problem. When you add that to the increasing number of aging patients, who typically require more healthcare, this puts even more work on the shoulders of an understaffed facility.

This leads to an overly stressful work environment. Nursing is already a naturally demanding job. From my observations working alongside nurses, it is exhausting physically, mentally, and emotionally. Add that to long shifts, extra work burden, more patients, and a pandemic!

To break this cycle, we need to get more qualified nurses in scrubs. More scholarship opportunities should be made available by existing healthcare facilities, private medical companies, and government. This will make entering the field of nursing more appealing for interested students that are undecided.

From a technology standpoint, the successful implementation of artificial intelligence will have the biggest impact. It can be utilized in the education system at all levels to simulate illnesses, assist with accurate diagnosis, and more. AI technology will help improve healthcare. Nurses and doctors are always necessary, but AI is a revolutionary tool that must be used to make the world a better place. We will cure many illnesses with the help of technology, artificial intelligence, and the discovery of new medications.

Many employees and patients will be skeptical of AI technology, it is important that we embrace the good to help as many people as possible. Nurses and doctors will be at the front lines of making patients feel at ease with AI advancements. They will lead the way, and so will I. I want to apply science through healthcare in a way that will have a direct improvement in people's lives. I also want to be involved in applying it to the lives of healthcare professionals to improve working conditions.