RWS 305W: Letter to a Prospective Student

1 Professor M. Copeland RWS 305W 05/23/2018 Project 1: Letter to a Prospective Student Congratulations on your acceptance to San Diego State University (SDSU)! As one of a select group of talented individuals, you are currently in the advantageous position of being able to choose from one of the many majors offered here at SDSU. This letter contains helpful information regarding one of SDSU’s most reputable programs: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Those who have what it takes to tackle the challenges involved with choosing this major are rewarded with a dynamic curriculum, state of the art facilities, and highly experienced faculty. Graduates from the School of Nursing (SON) go on to join the ranks of the number one most trusted profession with excellent employment prospects (ANA Enterprise, 2016). If you are a highly motivated individual looking for a major which combines scientific reasoning, hands on skills, and allows you to give back to the community, then you may be suited to the nursing program. Today’s average college level student is plagued with the stressors of increasing living costs, exams, and the imminent threat of competing for an entry level position after graduation (among many others). While the work involved in succeeding in the nursing major is certainly challenging, nursing students are able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with promising prospects of employment available to those with a BSN. With a current emphasis on preventative healthcare, an aging population, and an increase in chronic conditions nationwide, the demand for registered nurses with a BSN is increasing drastically. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018), the number of jobs for registered nurses with a BSN was 2,955,200 in 2 2016, with this number projected to increase 15% by the year 2026 (almost twice the percentage increase for all other occupations). As well as the availability of jobs for our major, we also enjoy the comfort of knowing that our profession comes with a certain level of financial security. BSNedu.org stated in 2018 that registered nurses with a BSN in California are among the highest paid in the nation, with earners in the 90th percentile reported to earn $141, 030 annually. While financial and job security should not be the sole reason to pursue any major, these factors certainly come into play when planning for success. One of the many alluring aspects of our BSN program is the state of the art lab facilities that students have access to. These facilities include a nursing fundamentals skills lab, a health assessment lab, and the Sharp Healthcare human patient simulation center (HPSC). Of these facilities, my most memorable experiences so far have come from my time in the HPSC. This resource became available to nursing students in 2006 with the help of a $1M grant from Sharp Healthcare (Sharp Healthcare human simulation center, 2018). It is a state of the art facility which offers a seven bed simulated hospital where students can apply their skills to scenarios ranging from basic patient assessment, to critical conditions such as septic shock. The patient simulators (of which there are six including pediatric and baby models) are incredibly reminiscent of a real live patient that a student might encounter in a clinical setting (Sharp Healthcare human simulation center, 2018). They have the ability to perfectly mimic the sound of trapped fluid in the alveolar sacs of the lungs upon inspiration, or an abnormal heart rhythm indicative of a malfunctioning valve. The facility even offers a birthing simulation experience for students completing their maternal and infant semester (Sharp Healthcare human simulation center, 2018). One of my favorite aspects of the HPSC is that it is right here on the SDSU campus nestled among a row of lecture halls. While your peers are stepping into another stock 3 standard room lined with chairs facing a projector, the nursing students next door are already in uniform, putting their learned skills into practice in their own private hospital simulation center. Even more valuable than the SON’s facilities are the program’s esteemed faculty. What I have found to be the most beneficial to my learning experience is the multidisciplinary backgrounds of the instructors. RWS 305W: Letter to a Prospective Student

The professors within the nursing major are unique in that they did not simply transition from academia to teaching as is the case with many other fields of study. Instead, they have extensive backgrounds working in the hospital setting, some of whom hold current positions as advanced practice nurses here in San Diego. Dr. Hadley, an associate professor in primary care and health assessment, is just one example of the high caliber of faculty that nursing majors have access to. She has been teaching with SDSU for over twenty years; however, she also has a curriculum vitae rich in professional experience both preceding, and during this time period. This includes active military duty as a critical care nurse, advanced nurse practitioner in women’s health, and her current position as an adult-geriatric nurse practitioner for the San Diego Veterans Affairs Hospital (Faculty, 2018). The various experiences of the faculty not only make for some interesting stories to break up the lectures; they also give students a connection to potential employers. Many of the instructors are on familiar terms with hospital personnel which means that a letter of recommendation from your clinical instructor (students begin to collect these as early as sophomore year) hold much more weight than that of a professor who has had minimal experience outside of the academic arena. Based on my personal experience with the BSN program at San Diego State University, the best resource we are offered here by far is an introduction, and continuing connection with local hospitals in conjunction with our major required courses. A unique aspect of the BSN curriculum is an early immersion into the professional setting. Once prerequisites have been 4 completed, the commencement of major required classes (as early as sophomore year) marks the beginning of a student’s clinical placement rotations. Students are assigned to one of the many hospitals which collaborate with SDSU, and placed under the guidance of specialized professors who have intimate knowledge of both the subject, and the health care institution of placement. This amazing resource is utilized alongside the SON’s state of the art healthcare simulation technology in order to create a safe and fulfilling introduction for its students to a range of professional arenas. Nursing major courses that are taken alongside a clinical rotation include fundamentals of nursing (this course is one of the first and a great introduction into the hospital setting), nurse psychology, and maternal & infant care to name just a few. Clinically focused coursework is also complemented with science courses that are tailored specifically to nursing students, such as pharmacology and pathophysiology. The clinical placements allow for students to apply theories learned from in depth scientific coursework and hone their hands on skills, all while becoming acquainted with the many local hospitals that collaborate with SDSU. Through both the SON’s student organization, and my coursework thus far, I have also had the pleasure of becoming involved in healthcare related community events. Opportunities to participate in these events are plentiful, and allow for the student to create meaningful connections with the local community on a level which reflects their current professional standing. One of my recent experiences with a community event was the Day of the Child in Chula Vista, at which a handful of SON students provided glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol checks through a UCSD health sponsored pop-up tent. The availability, and the SON’s focus on student involvement in these extracurricular opportunities create a standard of SDSU nursing graduates who have a rich professional portfolio. Upon graduation, you will have so much more than just a GPA score to make you attractive to potential employers. Although I 5 am only a student with junior standing, my ongoing involvements in these events have enabled me to obtain meaningful professional contacts, give back to my community, and to actually apply my coursework to a real life setting. As a future registered nurse, you will encounter challenges both in an academic, and a professional setting that will reshape you as a person, pushing you to a level of maturity beyond that of your peers and fostering the development of leadership and critical thinking skills. As a result, those who are fortunate enough to find their passion within the nursing major are rewarded with an exciting array of prosperous opportunities ranging from management roles, to graduate programs, and even public health and policy. RWS 305W: Letter to a Prospective Student

If you are seeking a major in which to find yourself both challenged and subsequently rewarded with a fulfilling career path, then a BSN might be perfectly suited to you. Thank you for your consideration and we wish you all the best in your academic career at SDSU. Works Cited 6 United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (2018). Occupational outlook handbook: Registered nurses. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm BSNedu.org (2018). BSN salaries in the California. Retrieved from https://www.bsnedu.org/california-salary/#main ANA Enterprise (2016) Nurses rank #1 most trusted profession for 15th year in a row. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2016/nurses-rank-1-mosttrusted-profession-for-15th-year-in-a-row/ San Diego State University School of Nursing (2018) Faculty. Retrieved from https://nursing.sdsu.edu/directory/faculty/ San Diego State University School of Nursing (2018) Sharp Healthcare human simulation center. Retrieved from https://nursing.sdsu.edu/lab-facilities/sharp-center/ ENGLISH JOURNAL 1 Journal 2 Notes on Coursework I have loved everything to do with science ever since I was a kid. I cannot explain the attraction, but deep down, that excitement comes when I know that it is a science course. Over the years, I have also been a good performer in the sciences. It has usually come naturally, which may be a difficulty for some other people. That explains why most of my majors’ draw on science-related courses. It has been an exciting journey to take these diverse courses, and there have been plenty of lessons learned along the way. In this section of the paper, the discussion will revolve around the three classes that I found most interesting. These are Organic Chemistry II, Bio ecology, and Ecology Lab. Chemistry, in general, is an incredible and fascinating field. It is a field of study that plays essential roles in everyone’s life and touches all the aspects of people’s existence in diverse ways. It ensures people meet their basic needs and beyond by providing solutions for clean air, water, and soil, good health, and energy. The incredibility of organic chemistry II has been no different from the explanation above. I have been able to learn a lot, including the structure and behavior of molecules of life. The most important lesson that I have learned is that the atoms required to form these molecules of life are useful for the construction of the molecules necessary for the survival of all plants and animals. During the lessons, I have had a fair share of interactions that have inspired me to become better in the field of organic chemistry II. For instance, a classmate is so much interested in the development of new reactions to make the synthesis of these molecules more efficient. His primary interest is in the combination of agricultural chemicals. There is the argument that some agricultural chemicals improve productivity, but, in the end, ruin the end consumer’s health. ENGLISH JOURNAL 2 Thus, the focus is on how there can be an improvement of their synthesis to maximize productivity while still reducing the long-term effects on the end consumer’s health. Given that this is the age where there is a keen focus on food security and population health worldwide, this becomes quite an exciting and challenging topic. Bio ecology is the other class I have been taking. This deals with the study of relationships between living organisms and their environment. The fact that the instructor for this course first wanted us to share what we knew about ecology at the beginning of the class piqued my interest. This strategy ensured that we were all on similar pages when it came to ecology by sharing our diverse knowledge. The course has enriched my understanding of the nature of environmental influences on individual organisms and their populations. It is a significant field of study. It has provided new insights about the interdependence of the components of the environment, which are imperative for food production, the maintenance of clean water, air, and the sustainability of biodiversity in this era of climate change. RWS 305W: Letter to a Prospective Student

Lastly, the ecology lab class was fun because it involved a field trip to SDSU. The aspect of going outside with a knowledgeable instructor who was a natural historian made the trip more amazing and eye-opening. I learned a lot about the environment in this field trip and the histories attached to various parts of the ecological systems. The course has enabled me to become better in observation making, generation of hypothesis, and the collection of field data. All these are useful when it comes to answering vital questions in diverse sub-disciplines in ecology. ENGLISH JOURNAL 3 Influential Faculty Members Christopher Glembotski Dr. Glembotski is my professor of Biology. I had admired his work and research interests over the years and therefore was thrilled when I realized he would be part of my instructors. He has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California in Los Angeles. His research interests are in cell communication and signal transduction in neuroendocrine Cancer and heart cells. These are exciting areas given the increasing rate at which people in America die from heart conditions. Currently, Dr. Glembotski is focusing on identifying signaling mechanisms in the heart that act as regulators for the growth and continued existence of the myocardium during normal and extreme conditions. The importance of this area of research is that it has enhanced the understanding of the effects of ischemic stress on the secretion of paracrine signaling proteins. Ischemic stress in this research results from coronary artery disease. Nicholas J. Shikuma Dr. Nicholas Shikuma has a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of California. He is currently a member of faculty for the SDSU Biology department. He is an exemplary performer when it comes to the world of cell and molecular biology. This means that he broadly studies the DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids of cells to define their structures and functions. Dr. Shikuma’s research interests lie in the area of bacteria stimulation for animal development. There is no doubt that bacteria are imperative for the development of animals. However, the excessive presence of bacteria may be detrimental to the animal and its development. Similarly, harmful bacteria may be adversarial to the animal. In light of this, The research seeks to understand how bacteria may benefit animals to yield new methods for manipulating microbes. ENGLISH JOURNAL 4 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Nursing Sample One of the strengths noted in the article is in the introductory part. The letter starts with a congratulatory message, which is eye-catching for the reader. They will want to get into the following detail of the letter as there has been a seed of curiosity planted by that attention-getter. However, still in this first paragraph emerges the primary weakness. In the last sentence, there is the use of the word ‘if.’ The term ‘if’ does not offer surety of the admission to the program. The school has already accepted the student, and they are ready to admit them to their faculty. The letter is congratulatory and informative, and the moment the word ‘if’ appears, it shows a lack of surety and clarity of the offer’s details. It is as if there is a level of second-guessing on the side of the offer. This statement should have focused on letting the individual that they are on the right track by eliminating the word, ‘if’ and ‘maybe.’ The statement would have been better if it read, ‘Highly motivated individuals like you are suited to this nursing program as it offers a combination of scientific reasoning, hands-on skills, and an allowance to give back to the community.’ The other strength evident from the article is in its vivid description elements. There is a vivid description of the BSN program at San Diego State University. The paper states that the university’s program offers, “A dynamic curriculum, state of the art facilities, and highly experienced faculty.” This description helps the potential student to imagine already what they would be missing out by failing to join the BSN program for which they have already been admitted. There is also another instance of vivid description with similar effects. RWS 305W: Letter to a Prospective Student

The situation when there is a description of the advantages of taking a BSN in the face of the stressors that plague college students. Useful articles have statistics supporting them. The information that the material provides contains strong backing in terms of the statistics and figures. Additionally, ENGLISH JOURNAL 5 these statistics are from reliable sources such as the department of labor. This makes the entire article reliable and trusted by the reader. The use of personal experiences makes the article more relatable. The reader or the person admitted into the program goes through the experiences of other individuals and realizes that they can also get to experience the same. It is as if the whole aspect of the institution and life within it comes closer to reality. This brings in the other strength depicted by this article. The inclusion of the most memorable experiences the author had at the school made the potential student relate to the school’s environment. The use of specific faculty members is also a strength of the article. This provides a base within which the potential student can research on the faculty. There is a need for students to identify with instructors before they get to school. This ensures that they know the people they can approach due to the similarity of research interests for guidance. Hence, this mention also stands as a strength of the article. The other notable weakness of the article is the lack of the mention of the specific challenges that a nurse professional may experience in their academics and professional settings. The mention present in the paper is quite vague and does not give the potential student a clear picture of the challenges. It is imperative to provide these challenges to ensure that the student understands what they are enrolling into and psychologically prepare for the journey ahead. Overall, it is an excellent article with minimal weaknesses. ENGLISH JOURNAL 1 Journal 2 Notes on Coursework I have loved everything to do with science ever since I was a kid. I cannot explain the attraction, but deep down, that excitement comes when I know that it is a science course. Over the years, I have also been a good performer in the sciences. It has usually come naturally, which may be a difficulty for some other people. That explains why most of my majors’ draw on science-related courses. It has been an exciting journey to take these diverse courses, and there have been plenty of lessons learned along the way. In this section of the paper, the discussion will revolve around the three classes …