Nursing Scholarship Awarded

As a pre-med student at UC Davis, Angela Chu thought she wanted to become a doctor. However, it was during an internship with doctors and nurses at UC Medical Center that she realized her true calling was nursing. She learned from her mentor, Dr. Ming Quan that physicians spend limited time with their patients. From the nurses she learned that they provide all the patient care. Chu's passion is the hands-on approach to health care and this is where she knew she belonged.

That hands-on approach began for Chu when she was very young caring for her brother who had polio. It eventually left him paralyzed and she helped her mother care for him until she left for college. "I saw caring for my brother as a privilege," says Chu, "because he and my mother taught me patience, perseverance and strength of the human character."

As a first semester student at City College of San Francisco, under supervision from her clinical instructor, Chu has taken care of patients' medical needs ranging from giving meds and injections to getting water and changing diapers.

For two days she cared for an agitated patient who had mental problems and end stage renal disease. He never smiled, had minimal response, and purposely gave Chu a hard time. However, at the end of her shift, she told him goodbye and thanked him for being her patient. As she was leaving he called her back and smiled and said that some day she would be a good nurse. "That's what it's all about," says Chu, "His words meant the world to me."

As a bonus, Chu says being part of the Healthcare Interpreter program at City College of San Francisco has also been rewarding. "To be able to interpret for Chinese patients is a valuable asset for me as a nurse because I am familiar with the language and culture. I cannot think of a more meaningful way to spend my life," says Chu.

Interpreting doesn't stop with her patients. Chu's parents don't speak English and are dependent on her. As they age, Chu proudly says she must care for them, take them to their doctor's appointments, and help out when and where she can. "They need me and I need them," Chu says. "They have been very supportive and they encourage me to study what I believe in."

Sometimes Chu has worked two jobs while maintaining her internship, attending classes and caring for her family.

In addition to interpreting, Chu has participated in fundraisers for the American Cancer Society and for Lupus research and she has volunteered in the ER department at UCSF.

Chu's long term goal is to become a nurse practitioner.

Congratulations Angela!

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