Villanova Nurse Amy Gardner wrote the following essay reflecting on her year of service at Texas birth center and offers a challenge to prospective students.

There is a place where the ideals of nursing still exist. It's a kind of sacred place, a small corner of the world where a family centered approach is the rule, patient empowerment is a major focus, and high quality care is provided regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Providers are volunteers, bringing perspectives and experiences from all over the country and world for the betterment of the clients. The caseload includes many families with very little if any resources to pay for such care, and yet they are welcomed with open arms. The clients' knowledge, education and participation in their own health decisions become and remain a foundational priority throughout the course of their care. The opportunity for a new graduate nurse to plant his or her feet in this kind of place is the stuff that dreams are made of, and I have been blessed with just such an opportunity.

With my Villanova diploma and hard-earned RN license in hand, I set out to Holy Family Services Birth Center in Weslaco Texas to begin a one year volunteer contract as a staff nurse. Holy Family is a freestanding birth center located in a small town in the Rio Grande Valley, eleven miles from the Texan border with Mexico. The clinic and birth center provide all aspects of maternity care, caring for mothers and babies from pregnancy tests through the child’s first birthday. All care is provided by certified nurse midwives and registered nurses, each working on volunteer contracts spanning from six months to four years. I began my one year stay at Holy Family the first of July last summer and the end of this coming June will bring the end of my contract and a very bittersweet farewell.

As a Villanova College of Nursing alumna, I can say with complete confidence that following my heart to volunteer for one year was the best experience I could ask for. Villanova prepared me not only to be a successful, confident and competent nurse, but also instilled in me the importance of service and the value of faith-inspired work. There were so many opportunities throughout my Villanova years to serve, connect and apply my health care knowledge in a large variety of settings. As I write this, new exciting plans are being made at the College of Nursing to broaden experiences for students by providing opportunities to live and study around the country and world; the first group of VU nursing students came to Holy Family just this year! I would encourage all nursing students to not only take advantage of these multiple opportunities in both the College and University, but also to consider putting their skills to truly meaningful and rewarding use by beginning their career with a year of service, even if it means stepping out of comfort zones. It has challenged and changed my perspectives in a way that will influence both my career and my life from this point forward.
 

Amy Gardner, BSN, RN
BSN '03
Barrington, RI