I was not looking forward to a rotation in a locked psychiatric ward during my BSN training; it was merely something to be endured to reach my goal of becoming a midwife. I found the community to be a disturbing environment but was filled with sympathy for the patients and curiosity about them as individuals, the causes of their conditions, and the treatments being provided. I knew these people once had dreams, goals, families, and friends who loved them and were desperate to have them find a way out of the mental maze in which they were trapped. I wanted to help these people, and thus my career was born.
My interests are dementia and depression. Soon after graduating, I started working for a non-profit agency that provides and coordinates care for the elderly to extend their independent lives. As a Spanish speaker, I work with the aged Latino population and love doing so. Still, I have witnessed how inadequate bilingual/bicultural providers can leave vulnerable patients undertreated or even effectively abandoned. One intelligent, articulate, but complex 89-year-old patient requested psychiatric and counseling care. Still, the only Spanish-speaking provider was overwhelmed with referrals, and access to help involving a translator would involve a long wait. He was placed in a locked psychiatric ward, and the courts sought guardianship to have him permanently institutionalized. It is heartbreaking to see how the shortage of suitably qualified and bilingual providers adversely affects the lives of elderly patients. This situation has compelled me to seek the specialist skills and knowledge that the program provides to be part of the solution to such problems.
The aging of the population will increase the problems that I have witnessed, and there will be an increasing need for healthcare providers to identify and implement ways of extending the independence and quality of life of the elderly. I hope to assist with research into neurotransmitters and cognitive disorders, especially dementia.
I have happily studied, worked with, and treated people of many cultural and social backgrounds, and I consider myself culturally aware and sensitive. I have volunteered with the Boston Reserve Medical Corps in immunization clinics.
I am aware that the program will be very demanding and rigorous in nature. I undertake to participate actively and enthusiastically in the program and am determined to succeed in every aspect. I know that the program will attract many well-qualified applicants, making it a competitive environment. I have substantial experience interacting with the elderly who face the mental effects of aging, which has deepened my empathy and understanding of their needs. I am fully aware of the critical role of MSN-qualified nurses when working with the elderly, especially in addressing their unique challenges. As a specialist nurse, I am passionately committed to providing culturally sensitive care to the underserved elderly in the Latinx community, ensuring that their cultural backgrounds and personal histories are respected and integrated into their care plans. My dedication to this cause drives me to seek innovative solutions and advocate for resources that can improve their quality of life.
Your essay highlights a heartfelt commitment to psychiatric nursing. Your experiences reveal a profound empathy for patients and a drive to address the critical need for culturally sensitive care in the Latino community. By pursuing specialized skills and knowledge, you're poised to make a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of underserved elderly populations.