Denise Phoenixs Entrance Essay for RDPN Program

Thank you for taking the time to read this entrance essay. I feel very
fortunate to have the opportunity to apply for this program.
I need to be honest, I never thought of myself as a nurse. I had childhood
visions of helping people, doing creative work and travelling the world. In the
past 17 years since Ive graduated high school Ive learnt one very important
thing, and that is we are all the same. On the outside we may we look different,
but inside we are fundamentally the same. We all hurt, we all grieve, we all
have bad days, and we all need to deal with the challenges that life throws at
us. On the other hand, we all deserve respect, we all deserve a chance (or a
second chance), and we all deserve to find our own happiness. Happiness, like
people, comes in all shapes and sizes. For me, Psychiatric Nursing is my
chance to help people find that happiness, whatever it may look like.
I have received my Bachelor of Arts in General Humanities, as well as my
Bachelor of Elementary Education. I have spent time working with special
needs children and adults and have found this line of work both rewarding and
challenging. No matter if you are 3 years old or 103 years old we all want to be
understood, respected, and listening to. I have been developing these skills
with the work I have done in the past 9 nine years since finishing university.
My work with children, and raising my own children, has shown me that life
moves too fast and we need to enjoy the time we have together. I am ready to
merge my education background with nursing education and experience. I
hope to one day be employed as a Nursing Educator at a college or university. I
am a lifelong learner and love to keep current with ideas, technology, theories,
and education. Since I have completed two university degrees already I feel
confident that I will be successful in this program.
I think in everybodys lifetime we will meet people who suffer from mental
illnesses. We may become mentally ill ourselves. I believe society is slowly
coming to understand the nature of such illlness, and how best to treat it. My
step mother-in-law is mentally ill and Ive seen how it has torn our family
apart. I have learned to accept who she is, offer my help, and not take her
actions or non-actions personally. We can offer help, but people have to work
through things at their own pace. We can only do so much. I believe the more
we talk about mental illness the better off everyone will be. We need a holistic
approach that does not simply label people and prescribe medication, but looks
further. For me that means understanding how nature (biology) and nurture
(experience) work together to develop and affect personality.
The role of the Registered Psychiatric Nurse is to be there for people
when maybe nobody else is. The role is to maintain respect, confidentiality, and
dignity at all times. A nurses job is be empathetic, a good listener, and an
advocate for the best care possible for the clients in his/her care. As humans,
we all deserve this. When I come to the end of my days I want to be treated in a
fair way and know that someone cared for me. The role of the nurse is to offer
guidance, options, and follow up to persons who are mentally ill. The
Psychiatric Nurse needs to be present at all times, giving full attention to what
needs to be done at the moment. I hope to offer enlightenment, compassion,
and hope to everybody that I meet and work with.
The Registered Psychiatric Nurses job is not glorious, not always fun,
and Im sure it is not easy. I have never been one to shy away from a challenge.
I usually jump in with both feet. I try to give one hundred percent to every job I
undertake. Just the thought of this program, this career choice, makes me very
excited. I am ready for the challenge that Psychiatric nursing will give me.
Thank you for reviewing this essay and considering me for entrance into
the Regional Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing program.

Submitted on January 26, 2012 by:
Denise Phoenix, 8946 McLarey Ave. Black Creek, BC, V9J 1C3
Phone (778) 428-2481, or (250) 650-7795 (cell)