Speaking So Others Feel Safe by Joana

Speaking So Others Feel Safe by Joana - April 2026 Scholarship Essay

One skill I hope to master in the next few years is effective communication, especially in high-pressure environments. I am a nursing student working towards becoming a pediatric nurse. I have learned that communication is not only about speaking, but it is about listening, being empathetic, and creating a trust with the patient and their family. In the nursing field, it is crucial to deliver information in a way that will directly impact a patient’s comfort, understanding, and overall experience.

I have started to accomplish this goal through my experiences so far. When I volunteered at Swedish hospital on the PACU floor, I was able to see how much of an impact a nurse could have by just talking to their patients. Often times the patients were frightened, confused, or in pain. Just by talking to them, or even just listening, you could make a huge difference in the way they felt. I have also accomplished this goal by working as a ramp agent for United Airlines. As a ramp agent, you have to be able to communicate with your team in order to keep everyone safe and to get the job done efficiently. I have also accomplished this goal by helping my fellow classmates 'study. I have had to learn how to explain things in a way that everyone can understand.

In the next few years, I plan to continue developing this skill through my schoolwork and through my experiences. I will be learning in school how to communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals in an effective way. I also plan to continue to have clinical rotations, and volunteer at hospitals in order to practice my communication skills with a variety of different people. These experiences will help me become more confident and adaptable in different situations. I would also like to improve on my interpersonal skills. As a pediatric nurse, I will be working with children who are unaware of what is going on, and I will be working with parents who are under a lot of stress. If I am able to communicate with these families in a caring, patient, and understandable way, I can help make their experience a little better. Accomplishing this goal will help me be a better nurse and help me impact more lives in a positive way. This is a goal that I will continue to work on throughout my nursing career.