____ University DNP Nurse Anesthesia

Old Dominion University is my first choice to become a highly accomplished CRNA. Most of all the sophisticated and thorough nature of the program and the support provided to students to enable and inspire their success. My husband is in Norfolk as well, and he gives me his full support in this application process and is committed to helping me to be totally free for my DNP Program in Nurse Anesthesia. I have also heard a host of good things about the CRNA program at Old Dominion, especially the outstanding opportunities for clinical practice. 

I look forward to contributing to the admirable celebration of diversity in the academic community at ODU, as a young, multilingual Indian American woman determined to go as far as I can in nursing, distinguishing myself as a CRNA and going on as many medical missions in support of surgeons as possible – especially to those parts of the world where my Asian languages are spoken, Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu. In the USA, I want to be part of the movement helping to make the care we provide increasingly culturally competent.  

I earned my BSN in 2019 (3.51 GPA) after earning a BS in Molecular Biology three years earlier. I received a couple of low grades in chemistry, one of which I have already retaken receiving the grade of A, and the other which I am currently retaking. Life has been hard for me primarily because of the traditional and rigidly patriarchal values of my Indian family. My twin brother received all the attention and support simply for being male. I have long channeled my frustration into my career, making me increasingly determined and focused on the goal of earning a DNP in Nurse Anesthesia.  

I have dreamed about becoming a CRNA even prior to starting my nursing career. Since I became a nurse, I have taken every opportunity to observe CRNAs on my floor attending to patients. I learn something valuable for my career from each. I have had the opportunity to watch several of them operating on children, and how they would calm the child to facilitate the procedure. One CRNA used what little Spanish he knew to relax the child through humor. I paid especially close attention to the body language of the CRNAs that I seek to mimic.   

Along with other CRNAs, I look forward to accompanying surgeons on relief missions in the wake of natural disasters worldwide because I believe we have a duty to help those in need.  I especially look forward to serving as an advocate for my patients. 

I hope to serve as a mentor in a Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia program. As a multilingual Indian CRNA, from America’s largest immigrant national grouping, I also want to make a special effort to facilitate communication between medical providers and patients. Communication problems are a major driver of access disparities and I want to do my part in mitigating these disparities as much as possible. 

Thank you for considering my application.