All you smarty pants!!!! Help me please!!!!!!

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Okay, im applying for nursing and the application is due in two weeks. I thought I had everything completed until I went over it and seen in VERY SMALL PRINT that we have to do a brief essay. Im kind of panicing because I know this essay can either make or break me> It says something like what are your goals in Nursing? Why do you want to persue nursing as a career? Of course I know the answer to all these questions but I sometimes crack under pressure. I wrote something down on scratch paper but it was wayyy too long. I dont know how to sum it up. SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What would you say? 5 to 6 sentences. Any suggestion?????????????

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU, Drug & Alcohol Detox.

Hi there...

First off... a brief essay is NOT 5 or 6 sentences. You should write two to three paragraphs.

This is your first opportunity to blow them away. There are probably hundred of other applicants with the same grades who took the same classes as you did, so you need to give them a reason to give your application that second glance, and this essay is your chance.

Brag about yourself without coming across as cocky. What qualities do you know you have that you know no one else has. Do you have any experience helping people? If you do, give a short example and then translate that into how you will express that in your nursing career. If you haven't had any experience as a nurse give a SPECIFIC example of the moment you knew that nursing was the career for you.

In a short essay it is important to weed out the jibber jabber and get straight to the point. You are selling yourself. No one likes a car salesman who babbles on for days without ever reaching a point. The best thing to do is to write out an essay. Who cares how long it is.... actually the longer the better. Then read through the essay and cross out the things you would consider as babble. Read through it again and circle the most pivotal points. Then read through it a third time and underline the sentences that SUPPORT your pivotal points. At that point...you will have something resembling an essay. Now re-write the essay with your pivotal points and your supporting statements. Add your name and a sprinkle of nursing fairy dust, and your on your way to your pinning ceremony.

Good luck!!!

What does nursing mean to you?

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Hi there...

First off... a brief essay is NOT 5 or 6 sentences. You should write two to three paragraphs.

This is your first opportunity to blow them away. There are probably hundred of other applicants with the same grades who took the same classes as you did, so you need to give them a reason to give your application that second glance, and this essay is your chance.

Brag about yourself without coming across as cocky. What qualities do you know you have that you know no one else has. Do you have any experience helping people? If you do, give a short example and then translate that into how you will express that in your nursing career. If you haven't had any experience as a nurse give a SPECIFIC example of the moment you knew that nursing was the career for you.

In a short essay it is important to weed out the jibber jabber and get straight to the point. You are selling yourself. No one likes a car salesman who babbles on for days without ever reaching a point. The best thing to do is to write out an essay. Who cares how long it is.... actually the longer the better. Then read through the essay and cross out the things you would consider as babble. Read through it again and circle the most pivotal points. Then read through it a third time and underline the sentences that SUPPORT your pivotal points. At that point...you will have something resembling an essay. Now re-write the essay with your pivotal points and your supporting statements. Add your name and a sprinkle of nursing fairy dust, and your on your way to your pinning ceremony.

Good luck!!!

What does nursing mean to you?

Thanks alot. Your insight was very helpful. I just wrote something so please please please tell me what you think! your HONEST opinion... Does it SUCK... Could i use a little work? Or am I going in the right direction???????

I honestly cant see myself doing anything besides being a nurse. I've heard lots of other students say this but then fail to give 110% in class, while studying and on exams. They get distracted and give up. I had a kid at 18.. and left my mothers home when he was only 2 months old to move to another town over 100 miles away to pursue my career in nursing because they offer a great program. This was a very defining moment in my life and I decided that I was going to give my all or give nothing at all. I believe Gods purpose when he created me was for me to be one of those shining stars who can brighten up the day of even the most weary person. Hes blessed me with an awesome spirit. Ive volunteered at a Christian preschool, homeless shelter, ASPCA, but neither of them gave me a more fulfilling feeling than when I began volunteering in the ER at a hospital. I couldnt do too much "hands-on" stuff at all, but just the interactions with different patients and the staff was enough for me. Sometimes I had patients who were so miserable they didnt even feel like explaining what their issues were. Other times I had patients who were so long-winded that I had a hard time finishing their vitals in a timely manner because they wouldnt listen. I've had patients who were mean, mad, and offensive with a mouth like a sailor. But 9 times out of 10 I could tweek a little change in their attitudes eventually. (AND THIS IS WHERE IM STUCK AT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (I FEEL LIKE IM KIND OF JUST BABBLING NOW) WHAT DO YOU THINK:up: or :down:

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It looks like you've got a lot of great areas to expand on, but this seems really disorganized. What qualities have your life experiences given you and how do they relate to nursing? To start, name the quality, then write about your life experiences involving that quality; then relate it to nursing.

Your volunteer experiences sound great for an essay, as do your life experiences with having a baby at a young age. Which do you think has more effect on who you are today? It might be best to focus on that one thing, as this should be a brief essay and I'm sure you'll have a lot to say about that one thing. Good luck!

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So personally, I don't think your essay is very good but that doesn't mean you can't tweak it with some focus.

What instructions are you given?

You mention these two things "what are your goals in Nursing? Why do you want to persue nursing as a career?"

So basically, what I'd do is make an outline and then fill it in. First would be The reasons you want to pursue nursing. Make an outline of the reasons then write a few sentences to elaborate. Then do the same for your goals. Don't talk about other students failing to give 110%, don't talk about negative aspects of patient, etc.

You do want to say positive things about your ER volunteering because that is good experience. If volunteering is what drove you to want to go into nursing, explain how it has changed you. Then be sure to include your goals.

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Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.

I have been asked several times why I want to go into nursing... I haven't always wanted to do nursing but since I decided to, I have always known what brought me there. It sounds like you know it too so I would share the personal experiences that you've had that influenced you :)

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