Reyna Aceves

My name is Reyna and I participated in the 2008 FACES Summer Medical Academy program. I then went on to graduate from Berkeley High School and am now attending Seattle University. Participating in the FACES Summer Medical Academy impacted my decision to pursue nursing as a career in many ways. It gave me the opportunity to see both the clinical and mental/emotional aspects of nursing. We learned about the importance of all healthcare professionals in the care of a patient, and we also learned basic clinical skills such as administering shots and placing IV’s. This allowed me to see how I could be successful in all aspects of nursing. While participating in FACES, I gained confidence in my intellect and ability to become whatever I wanted if I set my mind to it. We were awarded the rare opportunity to practice skills such as CPR and intubation along with the previously mentioned shot administration and IV placement. Being able to practice these skills on medical mannequins took away the pressure one might normally feel in a hospital setting, and allowed us to focus on mastering the task. I also gained self-confidence and security in my abilities.

I am currently a nursing student at Seattle University. Seattle University has one of the top ten undergraduate nursing programs in the nation and I feel blessed to be a part of it. I truly feel that my experience in FACES helped to get me to this point. I just completed my first quarter of nursing classes and I feel that the confidence I exude in our clinical labs is due much in part to my early hands on experience in FACES. I honestly believe that my participation played a huge role in me believing I could make it through nursing school and my ability to perform nursing skills with “great technique” (quote from my lab professor to me). I hope that when I graduate, I will be able to practice as a pediatric nurse in an oncology ward or hospital. I also hope to eventually go back to school and become a nurse practitioner with a specialization in pediatrics.

For those of you who are considering applying to the FACES Summer Medical program, I highly recommend it. You should all know that this is a once in a life time opportunity in which you will be exposed to many areas of the healthcare professions. Whether you know exactly what you want to do in the future or simply just that you are interested in health care, FACES is the place for you. If you know exactly what you want to do, you will be exposed to life in that field, and if you are simply interested in medicine, you will be exposed to everything and from that experience you may figure out what area you want to focus in. My experience has shaped my desire and drive to become a nurse who cares for the whole patient.

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