"I was extremely lucky throughout my education because alumni and community benefactors saw me as a viable investment in the future of nursing. I'm a single mom, and without scholarship support I simply would not have been able to achieve my dream of becoming a nurse. It is my goal to reward the investment made in me by being an outstanding nurse."

Debbie had her first hospital experience in 1988 when she underwent an emergency caesarean section. She remained hospitalized for a week after the delivery of her premature daughter. Nine days later she grieved the death of her infant.

Debbie will tell you today that the experience–because of the compassionate and quality care she received from her nurses–made her realize that she was meant to be a nurse. "I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to be a nurse."

Six years later she found herself divorced with a 4-year-old son and a 7-month-old daughter. She had to provide for her family and began by seeking her nursing education. She completed her prerequisite courses at Chemeketa Community College, and then in 1996, was accepted into the bachelor's program at Oregon Health & Science University.

"I went to an open house and was absolutely sold. I felt I was in heaven," she said. "They did a wonderful presentation and said ‘Congratulations and welcome to nursing. We are here to support you. We want you to succeed.' "

Then the reality set in as she wondered how she would ever be able to pay tuition, fees and support her family. She applied through the Oregon State Scholarship Commission for every scholarship she qualified for. After a rigorous process, she was awarded a Ford Opportunity Scholarship through the Ford Family Foundation that covered 90% of her unmet financial need. She received $1,000 scholarships from the Salem Hospital Foundation and the Zelma Gordon scholarship for OHSU nursing students.

"I was so excited. I knew I could actually go and do this. I didn't have to worry financially. I could immerse myself in this rich environment where everyone was there because they were interested in health care. OHSU provides a culture of professionalism."

Debbie graduated with the highest honors in June 1998. She won a Spirit of Nursing Award from the National Student Nursing Association, Sigma Theta Tau Outstanding Student Award, and the Outstanding Student Paper Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and presented it at a national conference in Chicago.

She completed a medical-surgical internship at Salem Hospital, and was assigned to the float pool, meaning she is trained to work on any of 10 floors. On any given night, she could find herself providing care for pediatric, post-partum, orthopedic, oncology, medical or surgical patients to name a few.

If it weren't for her education at OHSU, she said she would not have the knowledge to care for so many different patients. "I use every single thing I learned at OHSU. I would not have gotten the opportunity to do most of this at an associate degree level."

Debbie shares examples of situations where her advocacy for a patient provided them with comfort and relief, where her support for the family of a dying patient involved them in understanding the process of dying. And the case where after caring for a woman for just four hours, she received a thank you card that read: "I went to sleep knowing that today I met a friend who I will love forever."

Although she eventually may look at an administrative job, Debbie said she can't see herself leaving the float pool for now. She has the longest tenure of the medical-surgical nurses on the night shift. "What I like is using everything I have learned and being challenged. I also like having a global view of the hospital."

Debbie knows how critical scholarships were in her ability to fulfill her dream. "I couldn't have done it without my parents and my scholarships."

But she also knows that scholarships are vital as OHSU recruits new students, especially as we face a serious nursing shortage. "It's scary. It isn't easy for people to leave their jobs and go to school to make a career change. Recruiting new students is going to be a difficult task. Making funding available would really help encourage people to consider nursing as a career choice."

Last updated January 3, 2008 by OHSU School of Nursing Web Managers.
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