John D.

Fernandez
EMAIL: jdfernandez95@email.arizona.edu
HOME PHONE: (520) 546-7964 | CELL PHONE: (305)-458-1482
7948 South Nautilus Drive, Tucson, AZ 85756
September 25, 5017
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
3601 S 6th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85723
To whom it may concern,
It is an honor to be encouraged by several staff nurses on 3E as well as the Nurse Program
Coordinator, Barbara OConnor, to apply to SAVAHCS as a new graduate RN.
As a VALOR student on 3E, I learned how to time manage and prioritize care very effectively.
One day that my time management and prioritization skills were tested was when I received a
very demanding, medically complicated five-patient load. Among these patients: two had to be
prepared for procedures ASAP and three of them had dementia with active confusion. I also
assisted in a rapid response call on the unit later that morning. Despite the high acuity of my
patient load, I had successful patient outcomes. Working on a Med-Surg floor taught me to think
critically, be decisive, and be confident in who I am as a nurse to provide timely, quality care to
our veterans.
I am currently a Float Pool SNT at SAVAHCS who has provided sensitive, patient-specific care
to our veterans throughout the hospital. One of these units which I worked on was the SDU, and
I am also assigned to this unit for my nursing school preceptorship. I look forward to providing
high caliber care by synthesizing the skills and knowledge gained from clinical shifts at St.
Josephs ICU and SDU as well as my VALOR experience on 3E.
Integrity, commitment, patient advocacy, respect, and excellence are all imperative to my
nursing practice; as a devout Catholic, I believe God sees everything. While I may be able to get
away with providing subpar care here on Earth, I cannot hide my performance from the Lords
eyes in heaven. Therefore, out of great love for God and those in need, I will consistently uphold
the moral obligation I have as a nurse and a Christian to give myself away for the good of the
infirmed. This means I will do what is right even when no is watching, and I will care for my
patients with great love and humility without praise. Also, I know what it feels like to be on the
other side of a hospital bed with a loved one at the mercy of healthcare staff. I understand that
helplessness firsthand, and I also understand the morale-boosting power of a sincere nurse
advocating for my familys needs. Therefore, I will always advocate for the needs of our
veterans because of how personally this experience has touched me.
Lastly, as a Catholic and a leader among my peers, I firmly believe that serving others with
humility is how respect is earned. I understand that I am a new nurse, and I do not know
everything. However, I believe excellence is found in openly coming to terms with our
imperfection. In continually striving to better myself while staying accountable for my actions, I
will be an asset to SAVAHCS as an RN because it is my personal obligation to God as a man
and a nurse to care for those who are in need to the best of my ability.
I am beyond humbled to accept the opportunity to present myself as a candidate for potential
RN positions at this institution. I have great interest in particular with applying to 3E, SDU, or
ICU. Regardless, I look forward to serving our veterans in any way possible as an RN.
Blessings,
John Fernandez