A Single Parent's Relentless Dedication to Nursing

"I sincerely express my deepest gratitude for your contribution to my professional development. I was raised in a rural area where there was little emphasis on education for women. After many years of being a wife and mother, I made the decision to pursue my dreams.

I began my nursing career as a licensed practical nurse after completing a vocational program in 1999. The program cost $1,250 and I saved for two years to afford it. After obtaining my license, I was fortunately hired at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, which offered partial tuition reimbursement for continued education. I attended Rio Grande University in Rio Grande, Ohio. With the help of a Perkins loan, I worked full time and made an hour-long commute to campus for an associate of science degree in nursing.

In 2003, our family dynamics changed and I was able to relocate to Columbus, Ohio and become an emergency/trauma nurse at THE Ohio State University Medical Center. This opened a world of opportunities. After my youngest daughter graduated from high school, I made the decided to pursue bachelor's degree in nursing. While I had the benefit of tuition assistance through the medical center, there were other fees and textbooks to purchase at my own expense. While going to school, I worked 52 hours a week and raised my daughters as a single mother. I was lucky to receive the The Valerie Helsel Scholarship in 2012 and the Critical Difference for Women Scholarship in 2013 which relieved most of the financial burden. I graduated in 2013 as a first generation college graduate. My parents and daughters were overcome with emotion when I accepted my degree from Dr. Bernadette Melynk.

Committed to continuing my education, I applied to the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner master's program with a nurse educator specialization at Ohio State. Again, I had the great benefit of tuition assistance. However, when I discovered the cost of graduate enrollment, I feared that my progress had, once again, been stalled. This was not in God's plan, however, as I was selected to receive the Nightingale Scholarship in 2013.

I am now an active member of the Alumni Association. I travel with Dr. Melynk on her "Wellness on Wheels" bus tour, teaching healthy lifestyle habits to prevent heart attacks and strokes as part of the Department of Health & Human Services’ Million Hearts® Initiative. I have completed the first year of my program, and once again, I have been blessed. Your contribution has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. I will complete this degree in spring of 2016 and then hope to continue in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program. My dream is to work as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and progress at the doctorate level to promote patient safety and evidence based practices."

Support a deserving student like Susan today. Please contact Leslie Kreinberg at kreinberg.3@osu.edu or at 614-247-6600