Up Close
Spotlight on Marlaina Fernandez By Victoria Bock , 2021-2022 Up Close Reporter
At any point in our careers as nursing students , we know how difficult the nursing curriculum is . What we may have forgotten about is how difficult it was to get into nursing school . That acceptance is only the beginning of our journey in nursing and it is a monumental start for us all . Marlaina Fernández , a nursing student at Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing in Monterey , CA , considers her acceptance into nursing school one of her greatest achievements . She is one of the most dedicated , hard-working , and caring nursing students , and her story is nothing short of remarkable .
Marlaina ’ s passion for nursing stems from her time spent in Labor and Delivery when she gave birth to her first son . The nurses made her experience beautiful , and she instantly could see herself in the role of a nurse in a Labor and Delivery unit . “ By nature , I think I ’ ve always been a nurturer and it just comes naturally to me , so why not do something that I love ?” This natural gift has been a part of Marlaina ’ s life since she was around the age of 5 or 6 . Growing up with a single father , she would help take care of her siblings as much as she could , and she truly enjoys helping others . From her own personal experiences , she hopes to become a Labor and Delivery nurse , and she ’ s even looking to get specialized certifications before her graduation .
Marlaina goes above and beyond in her practice as a nursing student , especially when it means that she is giving back to her family and community . To Marlaina , nursing means giving back – and the way she wants to give back is through teaching about what she is learning or has learned as a nurse to her community . “ I might just be one person , but I have children and a goddaughter , too , and I hopefully want to pave that way for them to jump into the nursing profession .” Ultimately , she wants to inspire her community to reach for their dreams , whatever they may be , so they know they ’ re capable of anything they put their mind to . Marlaina ’ s hopes and achievements have transformed her family ’ s past and generated a bright future for herself and her descendants . She will be the first college graduate and nurse in her family , and she couldn ’ t be more excited for the next chapter in her life .
The qualities of a nurse go beyond the skills they present at the bedside . Marlaina ’ s qualities of selflessness and compassion are a part of everything she does – even the things she does to take her mind off work . As a method of selfcare , Marlaina spends time taking care of and nurturing over 60 indoor plants she has around her home . She loves watching them grow , especially when she has plants that require different needs and conditions . When a plant is sick , she instantly assesses what it needs , and she provides it . I commented that the plants are just like her patients , and she agreed . Ultimately , anything she cares for she wants to see flourish : from her children to her community and to her present and future patients . Marlaina will undoubtedly go above and beyond the standard of care with the beautiful talents that come so naturally to her .
When asked is her greatest achievement , she said , “ I feel that my greatest achievement would be getting into nursing school ( cliche , I know , but it ’ s true !). As a Hispanic girl with immigrant parents that worked in the strawberry fields making minimum wage , I never thought in a million years that I would pursue higher education or even a career in nursing . I worked very hard and when the day came and I finally got admitted to the school of my dreams , I knew I hit one of the biggest milestones in my life . The driving force was my three little children ! I wanted to break the generational poverty in my family and give my children access to more opportunities than I ever had . From being homeless , to now being on the cusp of being an RN this summer , I am extremely proud of how far I ’ ve come . Si se puede !” n
24 NSNA IMPRINT • APRIL / MAY 2022 • www . nsna . org