Nursing Statement of Purpose for Emory University:

Upon entering college as a freshman, I was unsure as to what career path was right for me, and I did not immediately declare nursing as my major. For this, there are my other undeniable interests in music and psychology; however, I have recently discovered the great difference between interest and passion. For me, college has been an excellent medium through which I have been able to fully explore the many options available to me. Despite experiencing financial difficulties and family hardships after our home being robbed and the passing away of my father, I saw college as a chance for a new beginning.

Throughout my undergraduate years, I worked at a hospital, became very involved in extracurricular activities, and seized the opportunities to both volunteer abroad for a summer as well to live and study abroad for a semester. It was also during these times that I was exposed to international leadership roles, and realized the tremendous impact one individual can have on a global level. After hands-on exposure to so many new people and ideas, these experiences opened my mind and my heart as I learned and grew a great deal in a short amount of time. I also became very strong in my faith, which places great emphasis on balance, health, and using intellect as a tool to help all human beings and lead to progress in society. As I have grown into the person I am today, I have gained a much better understanding of who I am, who I want to be, how I want to live my life, and what is most important to me.

I firmly believe that with faith and perseverance all dreams are possible, but I also believe that health is the foundation with which these dreams can become a reality; being healthy is a lifestyle that incorporates mind, body, and soul, and it is one of the most important aspects of my life. I also believe that education is a lifelong process, and the best way to put good knowledge to use is to use it for the betterment of each person you come across. After realizing how fortunate how I am compared to so many others, I know I could not live a life of contentment knowing that I had not done all I could do to help better the society around me. Perhaps most of all, I have learned the importance of optimism and resilience in the face of inevitable struggle, and I have learned to embrace challenges and difficulties in a way that I feel not many others can understand. I believe this allows me to work hard to achieve my goals without allowing setbacks to discourage me, and this is what will aid me greatly in my path towards nursing.

I believe that Emory’s nursing school is the ideal platform for me to seize the opportunity for continued education because of its combination of the advancement of medical science and the core values of altruism and compassion in a healthcare environment. Although I did not live up to my potential in my earlier college years, I have gained an immense sense of motivation since then and I believe I possess the professional and personal qualities and skills to not only succeed in nursing school, but also to thrive in leadership roles within my community and on a global level.

At this point in my life, absolutely no doubt exists in my mind that nursing is my true calling and that this is where I am meant to be. For this there are several reasons, but perhaps most importantly is the indescribable passion I have for healthcare and loving and helping others. Life is inevitably full of good, bad, and everything in between, but without good health it is difficult to experience all that being alive entails. Attaining my bachelor’s degree will only be the beginning of my path towards nursing, and making a difference in my community is only the first step. I am especially interested in eventually becoming a nurse practitioner and working in a pediatric immediate care setting. I believe preventing and preparing for unexpected medical emergencies as just as important as controlling and treating injuries and illnesses after onset. I have a lot of experience working with children, and enjoy learning about healthcare in terms of development in the early stages of life. Furthermore, applying this to an emergency setting will allow me to think on my feet and continuously put to use the valuable skills I will gain through Emory’s nursing program.

What is of particular interest to me is that within the nursing field, there are an abundance of options, and endless potential for continued growth and progress. Nursing is a challenging and demanding career which I know will provide me with the opportunity of a lifetime of learning experiences, but of one thing I am certain: Nursing is so much more than a job or career; it is the missing piece that can add value, meaning, and purpose to my life, and provide a fulfillment that I cannot attain in any other way. Lastly, I am grateful for the opportunity to express myself in a way that is not apparent by my academics; I understand that the nursing program is very competitive, but I have faith that with the drive and motivation to work hard and persevere, anything can be accomplished.

I didn’t include this in my personal statement, but the main reason I want to become a nurse is because it is not just a career, it is an identity and a lifestyle; I believe it is my purpose. You only have one life to live and one chance to experience it, and when you are sick in a bed you are just not able to do so. As a nurse, I want to do everything in my power to ensure that as many people as possible are taken care of physically, so that they can have the opportunity to experience all of what life has to offer–the good, the bad, and the crazy. There is undoubtedly a lot of bad in this world, but nurses bring a little bit of good to all of the bad. Nursing is a trusted and respected profession that requires the ability to think critically and act ethically in order to make the world a little better by making its people a little happier and healthier.

The job stability and close-knit community of this career field are just added bonuses. There will always be a need for nurses, no matter what, because the skills you gain along with the ability to use both your mind and your heart in the same moment are very rare. It is also true that only a nurse can truly understand another nurse, and this brings all nurses a little bit closer together. But perhaps the greatest bonus of nursing is that you can virtually do anything, anywhere, in any specialty, with any individual, group, or community, and you can change your mind as many times as you want until you find your niche. It is truly the most unique career I can think of that is always changing and growing, and the only career for which I am willing to sacrifice everything. It is my greatest dream that in two years I will graduate from Emory University as a nurse, and I will carry with me all that that encompasses forever.