Nursing Scholarship Awarded

As a nursing student, Violeta Leslie is already giving her patients the care and compassion they deserve.

While working with an ICU patient who cried most of the time and couldn't speak, Leslie knew she had to reach her patient and create a way to communicate with him. She had him write his needs on a dry erase board and also asked him to squeeze her fingers for yes and no. They worked it out and he and his family were appreciative of her efforts. His wife and family told her she was going to be a very good nurse. Words every student nurse wants to hear.

As a person who has overcome hardships all of her life, she knew very early in life that she wanted to succeed. She decided on a nursing career and she's very happy she did.

When she was 14 years old, she signed up for the military right after graduation from high school. The Air Force paid 100% tuition and she completed her general education courses. After completing her military obligation, she took her prerequisites at Yuba College, Sierra College and American River College . It was then on to California State University at Sacramento where she was accepted through the lottery system.

The road to nursing hasn't been an easy one financially, but she does receive a lot of encouragement from her husband and her parents. She plans to use her scholarship money for books, lab fees, and tuition.

She says she wants to work for a couple of years and then work toward a MSN degree specializing in public health. "My goal is to become a public health nurse," says Leslie. She likes the idea of working in schools, making home visits, and working in communities to promote health and prevent illnesses. She also wants to work with minorities and people living in poverty that don't have adequate access to healthcare.

Leslie understands the importance of giving back and has worked for the American Heart Association as well as held health fairs where she provided information about heart disease. She has also worked for the Sacramento Food Bank. She is currently volunteering at Sutter Hospital, in the Emergency Department where she runs errands for the nurses, and works with the emergency and lab techs.

Leslie has some good advice to nursing students. She says to ask tons of questions and get clarification. Nurses are there to help. It's important to get their input if you are uncomfortable performing a procedure because patients have the right to safe care. She adds, "Be prepared to laugh at yourself and have fun learning."

Congratulations Violeta!

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