By Jamie Nicpon | Office of Communications & Marketing | 9-25-2018
Single mother, full-time registered nurse working at multiple facilities, volunteer firefighter, 4-H superintendent, community activist (Habitat for Humanity, NAMI, PTK just to name a few), and let’s not forget, a full-time student in pursuit of her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Iowa ... yes, you could say Selena Sampson has a lot on her plate. But that’s never kept the Creston, Iowa native from working tirelessly to better herself, her profession, her family, and her community.
“I find volunteering extremely rewarding,” she explained. “I aspire to be a role model for my son, Calvin, and this is certainly how I try to practice what I preach.”
Sampson, who splits time between the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines and Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, enrolled in UI’s RN-BSN program because she wanted the opportunity to continue her education in a renowned program (currently ranked No. 4 in the nation) that was flexible enough to accommodate her incredibly busy schedule.
“This program has an excellent reputation and its faculty and administrators have built a rapport with countless health care facilities and professionals across multiple disciplines,” said Sampson. “My goal is to improve my ability to contribute to the structural and organization levels within a health care organization. I also hope to increase my understanding of evidence-based practice and become an active voice in my organization. By obtaining my BSN, I will have the ability to assume additional responsibilities while increasing future employment opportunities.”
In addition to expanding skillsets and increasing her marketability to prospective employers, by advancing her education Sampson also looks to refine her clinical interests.
“I enjoy emergent medicine as a volunteer firefighter and EMT; however, in the health care field, my biggest joy is following a patient from admission all the way through to discharge. I like solving the puzzle and working through a diagnosis/illness,” she explained. “I eventually would like to work in the pediatric/neonatal population after gaining experience and clinical competence. While some people find this intimidating I find the pediatric population rewarding.”
Sampson, who is enrolled in the program’s full-time plan of study, is slated to graduate in December 2019 and looks forward to being able to proudly call herself a UI BSN graduate. After graduation, she hopes to continue her education at the University of Iowa, possibly in the College of Nursing’s doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program, where she would like to explore specializing in critical care with an emphasis on the pediatric practitioner role.
“Selena represents the epitome of an RN-BSN student … a registered nurse with a very hectic schedule, living and working in rural Iowa while furthering their education through the pursuit of a BSN from the University of Iowa,” noted Cheri Doggett, RN-BSN program coordinator.
Regardless of the clinical path she pursues, with the character and resolve Sampson has shown throughout her life, combined with an advanced nursing education from the University of Iowa, the sky is truly the limit.
# # #