S.M.A.R.T

S.M.A.R.

Katy Sharp

A Profession with Purpose

As small brown hands grabbed mine, grasping for reassurance, I squeezed back tightly to offer a sense of comfort and good will. I was 19 years old, in a small hospital in Choluteca, Honduras with a team of doctors and nurses participating in a medical mission. I had flown over from Guatemala, where I was studying Spanish to participate in a SMART (Surgical and Medical Assistance and Relief Teams) trip. The images and experiences I gained during those few days have been forever imprinted in my memory.

Working in one of the medical fields has always been in the back of my mind, and my participation in this mission trip enabled me to see how I would thrive in the medical profession. Yet, at the time, I was determined to continue in a pursuit already underway. My dream of becoming bilingual led me to finish my studies in Spanish. After returning home from Guatemala to Creighton University, I transferred to the University of Kansas, where I studied abroad for a year in San Josi, Costa Rica and added a second major of Latin American Studies. As my education continued, I never forgot about nursing. My choice to study language and culture has taken me on many journeys. The process has made me a stronger, more culturally and self aware, individual.

At this point in my life, I have chosen to pursue nursing. The decision was reached by asking myself an important question: What will be my personal contribution to this world? Among the many admirable jobs to which I could apply my knowledge, only nursing stood out. It not only is a career that makes a difference, it requires universal skills that are applicable anywhere and toward all humanity. I am not out to change the entire world, but I am an idealist. I want my life and career to have purpose. Through nursing, I know that I can make a difference patient by patient.

At this point, I am uncertain which area of nursing, for example, critical care in a hospital or clinical work, would be the best fit. My professional goals are to work in environments where I can employ my Spanish skills by interacting with immigrants and the Spanish speaking population. I am also interested in international agencies assisting in areas such as relief and developmental work.

I know that I am prepared for the challenges of nursing school. I am organized, compassionate, resourceful, and of strong character. I have limited experience in the medical field, but I am well versed in the areas of caring and providing both physical and personal care. As a student, I have a varied work background. It includes caring for children, running a high-ropes course at Camp Tekakwitha, teaching Spanish, coaching gymnastics, and managing the Outdoor Pursuits Program for KU. Specifically related to nursing, I have shadowed in a hospital trauma unit, participated in KU Medical Centers shadow program in the critical care and surgery units, and last summer, I was trained to room patients, draw blood, and assist in the lab work at physicians office. I also returned to Honduras to participate in a second SMART trip. I am currently taking an extra-curricular course for medical interpreters.

My personal goal is to provide attentive care to my patients in a professional and affectionate manner. I also hope to donate to the cause of national and international humanitarian concerns. I see clearly how nursing and my previous experiences will combine, offering a way to serve others. I look forward to the road ahead. I know I am capable of success, and nursing is where I see myself thriving.

SMART makes a tangible difference in the lives of those abroad and here at home. It introduced me to the medical field and enabled me to participate in ways that never would have been available otherwise. While working with the teams of doctors and nurses, I asked a lot of questions and discovered that I was really interested in the medical field. I am very grateful to those involved with SMART who encouraged me to continue on in school, especially Mo Overton. Who knows, maybe one day Ill be a CRNA too! SMART is doing wonderful things for people both big and small. It changed my life by bringing me to nursing.