Carolyn Stevens, Professional Nursing Student

Finding My Best Match to Fulfill My Calling of Becoming a Professional Nursing

I am so excited to graduate with my nursing degree…three more semesters after this one! After graduation and taking the NCLEX-RN, I hope to join the Navy Nurse Corps

Born and raised in Washington state, I had never been to Texas until I transferred to ETBU in the fall of 2009. A little background on me…the year after I graduated from high school, I spent attending Capernwray Bible School, a one-year Bible college, in the middle of the beautiful English countryside. It was a wonderful experience, and that was where I truly gave my heart to the Lord. I learned a whole lot and this quote from Major Ian Thomas, the founder of my Bible school, really encapsulates what my relationship with Jesus Christ means to me…”I want nothing less than to be all that for which the blood of God’s dear Son was shed.” When I choose to give my life to Christ, it was with no contingencies. God’s plans are always best even if we cannot see that at the time.

Being in nursing school has certainly been a big change and a big challenge, but as Dr. Fineout-Overholt told all the nursing students at the Lighting of the Lamp Ceremony this fall, “If your view of God and His purpose for you is not intimidating to you, then it is probably insulting to God.” I love a good challenge and nursing has definitely been that. I have enjoyed my time at East Texas Baptist University mostly because the people are just wonderful. I transferred from the University of Washington in Seattle and it is a night and day difference between here and there. I went from sitting in classes as large as 440 people to my nursing class that has fourteen people with whom I share a great deal of classes

“If your view of God and His purpose for you is not intimidating to you, then it is probably insulting to God.” I love a good challenge and nursing has definitely been that.

 and experiences. The UW is a great school, but I really like the whole atmosphere of community that I get here. One thing that really struck me when I came to school here is that the professors not only care greatly about our academic success, but also about our personal and spiritual success. Their goal is to make us successful in what really matters. Nursing is a wonderful profession, but when we are taught to apply our faith to it, then it is awesome. We, as nurses, have the opportunity to influence people because we are with them in some of their most vulnerable moments. As Christians, this is the time to demonstrate Christ’s love by treating them and seeing them through his eyes.

I am so excited to graduate with my nursing degree…three more semesters after this one! After graduation and taking the NCLEX-RN, I hope to join the Navy Nurse Corps. I just finished the application process to the Navy’s Nurse Candidate Program and will find out within two weeks if I make it into the program. I eagerly anticipate their decision, and hope to someday work at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland in the trauma department. The military desperately needs good Christian men and women to serve and it would be my honor to do so.