Personal Statement

PERSONAL STATEMENT

The field of medicine never remains dormant. Health care successes are a result of extensive health initiatives, through health promotion programs and education. Nevertheless the battle to reform health care is continuous as health is our common foundation.  My decision to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Health (MPH) was neither an unpremeditated decision nor a foregone conclusion.  

In my pursuit to becoming a health professional, I enrolled into the Health Science Division at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College franchised from the University of the West Indies School of Nursing (UWISON) Mona, Jamaica, where I attained my Bachelors of Nursing Science (BScN). During this extensive program, I gained clinical exposure to foundations of community-based nursing, cultivating leadership skills, participating in various health teaching sessions and observing roles of public health care members. I had the pleasure of engaging in workshops with local public health officials, discussing concerns of primary care structures and health care systems. This was in invaluable introduction, confirming my aspirations to pursue MPH. Upon completion of my nursing degree, I was then eligible to sit the Regional Examination for Nurse Registration, where I attained my licensure from the St. Christopher and Nevis Nurses and Midwives Council to practice. The combination of these afforded me the opportunity to work within my local health institution, the Joseph N France General Hospital, where I began my practical journey as a Registered Nurse, gaining four years of clinical experience.

Not only did my BScN curriculum allowed me great access to a variety of  academic resources in Public Health, but also my work experiences, allowed me to explore scientific and clinical aspects of health care, integrating theoretical content and evidence base practices to deliver holistic care to individuals on the wellness –illness continuum. In addition it has broaden my cultural experiences and sensitivity to meet the needs of diverse communities. Importantly prepared me to be a competent independent practitioner.  Health promotion underpins a nurse’s role within a healthcare setting, gaining proficient skills and competencies to influence health-related policies and empower communities to take action towards improving health and well-being of the population at large.