Sample Nursing Personal Statement
My ambition to become a nurse has its origins in my father’s final illness, where I observed the sort of nursing care he received in hospital and was immensely moved and inspired by the professionalism and skill of those who tended him. When I was young my elder sister was a nurse, and I had the utmost respect for her and her work. These early impressions led me to volunteer as an assistant at the hospital where my father was treated, partly out of gratitude for the care he had received, and partly out of a growing conviction that nursing is one of the finest and most important occupations in the human world. My working career has only confirmed this belief, and has given me a good grounding in basic nursing procedure and medical knowledge. I am happy in my present role as a health care assistant, but I should now like to formalise my training and go on to become a fully qualified nurse and embrace the great variety of possible nursing roles then open to me.
As an assistant in the hospital I worked alongside doctors and nurses dealing with seriously ill patients. I carried out personal care duties, bathing, helping with mobility and use of the toilet. It was challenging and sometimes harrowing work, but immensely fulfilling. I felt that I was doing something of the first importance, and the medical team were very appreciative of my work. When I came to England in 2003 I immediately sought work as a health care assistant and now work with vulnerable adults suffering from various debilitating health problems in their own homes. My work involves personal care, such as dressing, shaving, bathing and so on, arranging and escorting hospital visits, and administering medication. I liaise with other professionals, such as doctors, district nurses, police, physiotherapists and pharmacists. I have received basic training in nursing procedure, such as taking temperatures, measuring blood pressure, washing out catheters, moving patients, and advising on diet and hygiene. There is a degree of administrative work too, including writing reports and treatment plans, taking minutes in team meetings, contacting social workers and making risk assessments. All of these duties have given me a useful preparation for my planned career, and served to reaffirm my commitment to the profession.
My college course covered human biology, including the skeletal system, the lymphatic system and physiology. This knowledge has helped me to understand the diseases of the patients I care for, such as diabetes, arthritis and heart problems. I enjoyed the practical aspects of the curriculum in the laboratory, where I gained many skills which will be important in a university course. I am also fully aware of the need to work in a professional team in dealing with such problems, and very much enjoy being a part of a wide-ranging, efficient and powerful system of health care. Even at school I was made a health prefect, helping the school nurse in the sick bay, working to maintain a hygienic environment, checking the first-aid kit and even performing simple procedures such as dressing wounds. My reliability and maturity of attitude were recognised in my appointment as head prefect of my high school, involving numerous administrative duties, directing others and working in teams.
I am fully aware that my chosen career can be very challenging, and I have already encountered many of the emotional and physical problems it can involve. But I am driven by a real determination to care for others and to try to make a difference to people’s lives. A nurse deals with people at their most vulnerable, at a time when their needs are at their greatest. A proper notion of human dignity, an urgent desire to alleviate pain and an ability to remain calm in the face of human suffering are the essentials qualities of the successful carer. My dedication to these values is absolute, and I hope you will consider my application.
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