Jessica Babler has been eyeing a career in health care for a long time. She began her education with the intention of becoming an OBGYN. After a shadowing experience, she considered the hands-on care nurse practitioners and physician assistants provided and whether it was better suited for her strengths. Ultimately, after her father was in a motorcycle accident, she witnessed empathetic care from the ICU nursing staff, and she knew a career in health care was the correct path.
With one year at Research College of Nursing under her belt, she has developed her own philosophy of care. Research College of Nursing has taught her how to be a confident, autonomous nurse. And one that intends to see patients beyond their diagnosis.
“Treating each patient like an actual person, building rapport, and helping establish trust can truly make a huge difference. The power of personal connection is just as important as the orders put in the computer, and I hope I never lose sight of that perspective.”
She will use this philosophy to pursue a career in critical care, and hopefully follow in the footsteps of the nurses who provided care for her father. Her long-term goals are to get a DNP or pursue a physician assistant program. Her clarity and determination are possible because some financial barriers have been removed from her journey.
Jessica has received scholarships from The Research Foundation for her junior and senior years. She is a first-generation college student, which has led her to the belief that scholarships cause a domino effect for incoming health care professionals. Her scholarship has allowed her to become a better leader and more active in her community, and in turn, a more engaged nurse.
“I felt like ropes were holding me back from pursuing a career in health care. With these scholarships, those ropes have been truly severed. Now I’m confidently involved, present, and overall engaged which has translated into becoming a better nurse.”
Jessica’s scholarships were possible because of individuals who invest in nursing students. Donations to The Research Foundation’s nursing scholarship program kick-start careers, including Jessica’s.
“The support of one student like me has the ripple effect of brightening the horizons of countless individuals. As a supporter of The Research Foundation, we share a desire to take care of others and make the world better than we found it. There is no better way to do that than kick-starting the career for a nurse who will change lives— which is exactly what donating to The Research Foundation does for nursing students every year.”
