Fountain wins national essay contest In March 2013, Jacob Fountain, Accelerated BSN student, won the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing “What do you believe about nursing?” essay contest. This national essay contest asks nursing students to share a personal story about why they want to become a nurse, what they have learned, who inspired them or what they want to contribute to the profession. Below is Mr. Fountain’s response of why he dreamed of becoming a nurse.
Personal philosophy of nursing by Jacob Fountain
“One turns to me his appealing eyes—poor boy! I never knew you. Yet I think I could not refuse this moment to die for you, if that would save you.” -Walt Whitman, from The Wound-Dresser Nursing is the ultimate culmination of art and science. As nurses, we must be diligent students, learning the manifestations of disease and how to treat their effects on the body, while simultaneously comforting our patient, and judiciously advocating on their behalf. Nursing blends together seemly diverse areas, the extremely technical psychomotor tasks with the art of quick complex clinical judgment. I believe that nurses must strive to be the most competent, sound and greatest clinicians they can be, not for their
Students see red College of Nursing Accelerated BSN students and the College of Health Professions anesthesia for nurses (AFN) program nurses teamed up for a summer blood drive with the American Red Cross on July 17. The blood drive was a huge success with 40 units of blood donated, surpassing their goal of 30 units. Aaron Waters (ACC BSN ’08) and current AFN student, led the effort and worked closely with Michael Occhipinti, College of Nursing Student Government Association President and Laney Purser, College of Nursing Student Nurses Association President. “Since the AFN students and BSN students are enrolled as full-time students during the summer, and there was no official sponsor for a blood drive at MUSC during the summer, our collaboration made perfect sense,” Mr. Waters said. “The Red Cross had issued an emergency request for blood donation to avert a shortage. Blood donation provides health care professionals with a valuable resource for saving lives in our community. A single pint of blood can save up to three lives,” Ms.Purser said.
own personal gain, but because they want to provide the greatest level of care for their patients. Walt Whitman served as a nurse during the Civil War, and his quote reveals the great empathy he had for the young soldiers for whom he cared. This empathy for our patients is one of nursing’s greatest strengths, and most taxing elements. We try to do everything in our power to help our patients, while balancing our own lives and responsibilities. Nurses are inextricably linked to our patients in a complex caregiver relationship, where we try to support our clients and their families, while still maintaining our professional demeanor and composure. I believe the values of a great nurse are compassion, diligence, integrity and selfless service. We are compelled to be a pillar of strength for all of our patients, to the elderly man who realizes he has a terminal cancer, to the Vietnam veteran still trapped within the prison of his own mind. Nursing is the perfect venue for me to continue my own service to others. As a soldier I felt compassion for fellow service members regardless of personal differences, as a nurse cares for their patients without hesitation. This dedication to others by service was an important value stressed to me throughout my time in the military, and will continue to be a guiding principle in my nursing career.
Fall | Winter 2013
Lifelines
47