Nursing Student Nnenna Bosah Uses Her Gregarious Personality to Reach Patients
It wasn’t too long after she enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Chamberlain’s Houston campus that student Nnenna Bosah figured out it wasn’t a one-person endeavor.
“In nursing school, you cannot do it yourself,” said the senior, excited for graduation next March. “I don’t care if you are smart or not, you need that support and Chamberlain has that. They find any way they can to help you.”
The Nursing Challenge, Finding Chamberlain
Before Chamberlain, Nnenna earned a master’s in business administration with a focus on healthcare management and worked as a healthcare recruiter, interviewing and staffing nurses in hospitals. She saw firsthand the frustration nurses face and how it could negatively impact patient care. That’s when she knew she needed to go back to school. “I want to alleviate any issues that can cause a bedside nurse not to focus on her patient. I knew I needed to understand how it works before I could manage and help them in a different way.”
Nnenna heard positive feedback about Chamberlain through her recruiter job and decided to give it a shot. “I wanted a one-on-one setting where it’s not just a school and no one knows who you are. There are so many resources here. If students say they can’t do it, it’s because they didn’t reach out for help. People here support whatever nursing students need.”
Sociable Wins the Race
Exposed to healthcare since childhood, Nnenna knew it was her calling. “I am outgoing and I speak to people before they speak to me most of the time,” she laughed. “I naturally care for people and put their needs before mine. This field is not easy but I think a certain personality can help. I am thinking about patients the whole time so I can get the job done.”
Nnenna said she relishes in patient interaction, and that when she communicates with patients at their level, they respond favorably and reveal critical medical information that may not have otherwise been disclosed. “You have to ask questions and find out their whole history, not just what they come in for. When they explain things in their terms and you keep asking questions, it all begins to make sense. It’s not just caring for them but really understanding what’s going on with them medically.”
Bonding with Patient
Every Friday, Nnenna visits a medical center to practice what’s been taught in class. Recently, she arrived at the center and the night nurse reported that one patient had not spoken for two days, hadn’t eaten all night and was a bit problematic. Nnenna immediately embraced the challenge and knew what had to be done. She walked into his room with a big smile plastered on her face and got the stare down. But she kept smiling and said, “Hi. I’m going to be here 12 hours so you’re going to have to talk with me.” And that’s all it took. He immediately smiled back, let her feed him and soon he was talking and even telling jokes.
“It was such a good feeling and it didn’t take much,” she remembered. “It was so fulfilling” – a feeling Nnenna wants other Chamberlain students to experience as well. So she Steps Forward by mentoring them and giving solid advice – “Expose yourself to the field. Volunteer at a hospital and see what nurses are doing. Get a little bit of exposure and don’t take shortcuts. It’s not easy.”
Finding Her Happy
Easy is also not a word Nnenna would use to describe her current world. Juggling school with work and being a full-time mom to two toddlers is tricky. And then there’s her volunteer work at church where she mentors youth in the choir.
“It’s a lot,” she admits. “But it’s worth it. I finally found a career where I can be myself and get paid for it. Most people go to work and don’t like their jobs. I go to work because this is part of who I am. I don’t have to change myself; I can be me all day. And I make a difference. I get to make an impact.”
Ready to earn your BSN? Learn more about Chamberlain’s BSN program.
