The Calling and the Craft

I grew up where the land stretches endlessly wide, where access was distant and health was often denied.

I saw the social determinants that dictated the pace, and carried those vulnerable populations in my heart's space.

This was my spirit of inquiry, the "why" and the "how",  the foundation of the scholar I am becoming right now.

The call came softly in a school hallway in Pasco, watching nurses lead with a holistic glow.

They were accountable leaders in the design of the care,  balancing technology and the math that was there.

Not just treating the illness, but advocating for the soul, Integrating aesthetic knowing to make a patient whole.

So I began, with hands steadying and a spirit of inquiry, learning that nursing is science, policy, and theory.

I practiced self-care to stay resilient and strong, because to this culture of safety, I truly belong.

From an ecological perspective, for the family and town, I work for justice and to tear the barriers down.

I care about people, deeply, truly, and professionally. Embodying the ANA standards and values naturally.

The learning never ends; lifelong engagement is the key, As I bridge the gap from student to the nurse I will be.

Nursing found me when I didn't know I was lost: A journey of mastery, whatever the cost.