ite clinical experiences was at Straub Medical Center , a part of the Hawaii Pacific Health Network . Instead of feeling like an inconvenience , as some nursing students do when in a new clinical environment , Patti felt included and affirmed by both her clinical instructor and the staff at large . She also enjoyed working with the Hawaii Pacific Health New Grad program , where she got to work in a Cardiac Care Intensive Care Unit ( CCICU ) that specializes in cardiac telemetry and burn treatment . Patti has also been involved in nursing research studies , sharing about nursing burnout and the effects of virtual training on clinical experiences during the pandemic .
Like many of us , Patti first joined her local chapter of NSNA to get involved in a nursing organization and earn points towards a special cord at graduation . But as she became involved in the events of her local chapter , she grew to appreciate the networking and professional development that NSNA provides . She enjoyed attending the Hawaii Student Nurses ’ Association ’ s ( HISNA ) state convention and hearing the inspiring speakers . One of her favorite NSNA memories was attending an event where she got to meet Cathey Parkes , whose website and Youtube channel , LevelUp RN , provided Patti with studying tips throughout her academic career .
Patti ’ s journey to nursing showcases the importance of support networks filled with people like Jennifer , Professor Cooper , and Felicia . As nursing students , we must all find these types of people in our lives to encourage us and help us pursue our personal and professional goals , even amidst challenging circumstances . We wish Patti the best of luck as she continues forward in her nursing career and starts her new job on the CCICU at Straub Medical Center , allowing her story to inspire others to pursue their goals , no matter the obstacles . n
44 NSNA IMPRINT • FEBRUARY / MARCH 2023 • www . nsna . org