Congratulations to Joanna Magee
MASPAN Student Nurse Scholarship Recipient ~ 2007
One early morning my family received a call that my father, a Boston Fire Chief, had been injured
on the job. Scared and unaware of what state he would be in; my family arrived at the hospital
shortly before he was brought to surgery.
After surgery, the nurses in the PACU at this particular hospital could sense my panic, and brought
me in to see my dad. They explained everything that I was seeing before me; immediately
alleviating my fears. Something about the nurses was so calming and therapeutic. It was an
attribute that could never be taught, but rather was a permanent personality trait.
It was those nurses who made me realize that I wanted to be a nurse. Growing up, I have always
known that I wanted to help people in some manner- it just seemed to be an engrained part of my
personality. That day in the PACU the staff nurses showed me what an incredible power this
profession held. It was amazing to me that another person could be so comforting without even
knowing me.
When it comes down to it, the reason I chose nursing as a profession is because I just know that it
is what I am meant to do. There is no greater feeling than leaving the hospital at the end of a long
work or clinical day and knowing that you made a difference. It is an incredible honor to think that I
would be able to assist in help saving someone’s beloved family member. Words cannot describe
the desire within me to want to grace others with my passion for getting patients better and home
again with their families.
I feel as though through my career choice I will be able to speak for the unspoken and act for those
who cannot do so themselves. What better of a reward than to support someone at their toughest
times? I cannot think of a more perfect job.
Joanna Magee
Congratulations to Jennifer S. Atkisson
MASPAN Student Nurse Scholarship Recipient ~ 2006
Why I chose nursing . . .
"It was not long after working on the liver transplant unit that I knew nursing was the career I had
been looking for. This decision seemed so easy after I saw the compassion and skill of the
nurses I was working amongst. It amazed me to see the nurses help patients who could not even
care for themselves in a manner that encouraged them to fight to return to a previous level of
functioning while still maintaining their dignity. I was also impressed by the time the nurses were
able to spend with each patient and wanted to be part of this hands on healing experience. For all
these reasons and many more small factors that have happened in the three years I have been in
school, I am determined to become a nurse and help all types of patients recover to an optimal
level of wellness."
Jennifer Atkisson
MASPAN Student Nurse Scholarship Recipient ~ 2006
Why I chose nursing . . .
"It was not long after working on the liver transplant unit that I knew nursing was the career I had
been looking for. This decision seemed so easy after I saw the compassion and skill of the
nurses I was working amongst. It amazed me to see the nurses help patients who could not even
care for themselves in a manner that encouraged them to fight to return to a previous level of
functioning while still maintaining their dignity. I was also impressed by the time the nurses were
able to spend with each patient and wanted to be part of this hands on healing experience. For all
these reasons and many more small factors that have happened in the three years I have been in
school, I am determined to become a nurse and help all types of patients recover to an optimal
level of wellness."
Jennifer Atkisson
Congratulations to Fariyda Mulrain
MASPAN Student Nurse Scholarship Recipient ~ 2009
I realized I wanted to be a nurse when I was in my
early teens, living in Trinidad. I can still remember
the joy I felt after helping to deliver a puppy. I helped
a tiny living animal come into this world. The process
gave me such a feeling of gratification and I took to it
so naturally. Then, my grandmother became ill, she
needed care and I stepped up to the plate. I took it upon
myself to make sure she took her medicine, got her rest,
and was comfortable during her recovery.
My sister, who has been a registered nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for ten years,
recognized my strength for taking care of people and has encouraged me to continue my
education in nursing. She advised me to watch the Health Discovery Channel to reinforce the
importance of well-trained nurses. The series involved patients facing medical emergencies and
how critical the role of a trained nurse was for their recovery. The program followed their health
care from the time he or she was admitted to the hospital until he or she was released in good
health. This program has broadened my overall knowledge of the roll of a nurse and how
necessary a good education is to achieve a nursing degree.
Nursing is an essential piece of the puzzle in the medical field. A nurse’s role in hospitals or
working in an elderly care facility is an integral part of healing the patient physically and
mentally. For almost two years I was responsible for the care of an elderly woman who suffered
from
Alzheimer Disease. When I was able to make her laugh or smile, it made the job so worthwhile
for me and only reinforced my need for a better education and more hands on in the healing of
the body. I also volunteered for the Horizon Initiative Community, helping to take care of kids of
all different races and backgrounds. Once again confirming that nursing seemed to be in my
future.
It was almost two years after I moved to the United States from Trinidad, that I started taking
courses at Bunker Hill Community College. The science courses have totally I fascinated me,
especially anatomy. Tracing the blood flow through the body reinforced how amazing our
bodies are and how much there is to learn. There were a lot of students who were nursing
majors in my class and I was intrigued by their conversations on the educational process and
challenges of nursing. Thanks to my exposure to health care and my sister’s encouragement, I
am confident enough to pursue my dream of being a nurse. These past experiences have helped
me realize that I was meant to be a nurse, and I will be one of the best.
Fariyda Mulrain
MASPAN Student Nurse Scholarship Recipient ~ 2009
I realized I wanted to be a nurse when I was in my
early teens, living in Trinidad. I can still remember
the joy I felt after helping to deliver a puppy. I helped
a tiny living animal come into this world. The process
gave me such a feeling of gratification and I took to it
so naturally. Then, my grandmother became ill, she
needed care and I stepped up to the plate. I took it upon
myself to make sure she took her medicine, got her rest,
and was comfortable during her recovery.
My sister, who has been a registered nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for ten years,
recognized my strength for taking care of people and has encouraged me to continue my
education in nursing. She advised me to watch the Health Discovery Channel to reinforce the
importance of well-trained nurses. The series involved patients facing medical emergencies and
how critical the role of a trained nurse was for their recovery. The program followed their health
care from the time he or she was admitted to the hospital until he or she was released in good
health. This program has broadened my overall knowledge of the roll of a nurse and how
necessary a good education is to achieve a nursing degree.
Nursing is an essential piece of the puzzle in the medical field. A nurse’s role in hospitals or
working in an elderly care facility is an integral part of healing the patient physically and
mentally. For almost two years I was responsible for the care of an elderly woman who suffered
from
Alzheimer Disease. When I was able to make her laugh or smile, it made the job so worthwhile
for me and only reinforced my need for a better education and more hands on in the healing of
the body. I also volunteered for the Horizon Initiative Community, helping to take care of kids of
all different races and backgrounds. Once again confirming that nursing seemed to be in my
future.
It was almost two years after I moved to the United States from Trinidad, that I started taking
courses at Bunker Hill Community College. The science courses have totally I fascinated me,
especially anatomy. Tracing the blood flow through the body reinforced how amazing our
bodies are and how much there is to learn. There were a lot of students who were nursing
majors in my class and I was intrigued by their conversations on the educational process and
challenges of nursing. Thanks to my exposure to health care and my sister’s encouragement, I
am confident enough to pursue my dream of being a nurse. These past experiences have helped
me realize that I was meant to be a nurse, and I will be one of the best.
Fariyda Mulrain
