Nursing Student of the Month
January 2018
Kennedy Schell
Year 1 BScN Student
"Right from the start of our year, Kennedy has always been up for helping anyone with any questions they have, whether clinical or class related and frequently goes out of her way to take the time and make sure they understand. In clinical she is always up for any opportunity to practice and further her skills and treats her patients with the utmost respect and care and goes out of her way to ensure they are comfortable. She has also served as an advocate for the patient in many situations. She also frequently takes initiative not only in clinical but also in class and seminars."
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Learn more about Kennedy!
Q: Why did you choose nursing?
I chose to go into Nursing because I want to be able to initiate change and improve practices for our healthcare system. I feel incredibly fulfilled when I am able to make a positive impact in a person's life by listening and acting on their concerns or by removing barriers. I hope to be able to make our healthcare system more accessible to individuals from all walks of life and to create space in my practice that everyone feels they can be helped, and heard in.
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Q: Tell us a Fun Fact about yourself!
I was a Drama and Classics major for 2 years before I switched into Biology, I wanted to be a Museum Curator!
Vanessa Reali
Year 2 BScN Student
"Vanessa is someone that will always be there for you, day or night. She has never hesitated to set aside an already full plate and help me through some hard personal times this year, or give A+ advice and help for everything and anything school and clinical related. Vanessa's passion for nursing and helping others inspires me every day to be a better nurse and also a better person. She embodies the character of a Bloomberg student as well as an amazing future nurse. Vanessa is a great role model, someone I look up to and is one of the most caring, genuine and selfless people I know. She has gone above and beyond the mentor role and become a close friend, and for that, I am super grateful!"
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Learn more about Vanessa!
Q: Why did you decide to go into nursing?
I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but I never really knew exactly what that area was until I underwent a life-changing experience. I became critically ill in (what would have been) my final year of my undergraduate studies and ended up hospitalized for over a month. It really was an eye opening experience for me, being the "patient" on the other side of the bed. The fear and vulnerability that I felt as a patient will never leave me, and I take that with me to clinical every week. It was during this time that I truly understood and appreciated the invaluable role that nurses play in an individual's illness experience. I always say that while the surgeons, undoubtedly, saved my life, the nurses were the ones who gave it back to me. After I recovered and returned back to school to finish my degree, I knew my next step was to look into nursing as a future profession.
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Q: Tell us a Fun Fact about yourself!
Some may say I have a knack for song lyrics...Any genre, any era. Think of the musical variation from your first mp3 player (including those songs that your parents asked you to upload) to today's smart phone...that's me, in human form. If only this talent was useful when studying...