The Mennonite College of Nursing would like to congratulate student Emily Brownlie for being selected as a Robert G. Bone’s Scholar for the 2024-25 school year. Between studying, clinicals, her role as the Student Nurses Assocation (SNA) president, and her job as a tutor, Brownlie has her hands full while pursuing her BSN. Her motivation to care for others and unwavering dedication during her time here with MCN will follow her as she embarks on her journey as a new graduate nurse.
Can you share any mentors or role models who have influenced your journey in nursing?
The first one who comes to mind must be my mom. She has been a nurse since before I was born and has worked in the profession ever since. She has always spoken positively of it as a career. I would also say my clinical instructors. I have been very fortunate to have very kind and supportive clinical instructors here at ISU who promote our learning in a safe space. Furthermore, I have had a few of my own medical experiences in the past that have helped me develop a great appreciation for nurses as they comforted me and helped me through difficult times.
What motivated you to pursue a career in nursing, and how does winning this scholarship impact your journey in the field?
Honestly, I am motivated by human connections. I love getting to hear other people’s stories and getting to know them in a space where my work is to help them. One of my biggest passions in life is supporting mental health and meeting people where they need, so nursing felt perfect for that mission. Also, during high school and even now I have worked in a retirement home as a food server, and I loved the job. Getting to know the residents and their families through their meals and even COVID-19 showed me how even one person can make such a positive impact in the lives of others. However, holding brief conversations with them when delivering their food made such an important difference, which they still cherish to this day. Just like with that role, in nursing and other health care positions, even the smallest actions when done with care and love are so valuable and important!
Can you share some of your experiences or challenges that have shaped your passion for nursing?
My retirement home experience has been incredibly influential in driving my love for nursing. Also, my mother has been a great inspiration to pursue the field. I also love the passion a lot of my professors hold for going higher in the field. In addition, my interest in medicine sparked when I was a kid and got diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). It wiped out the summer because I could not walk because of pain and aches due to my small blood vessels being inflamed. It was scary but also fascinating because I had never heard of it before and here it was ruining my summer.
How have you balanced your academic studies and any extracurricular activities or work commitments while at MCN?
Framing my schedule around exercise has helped me balance life most. Even when I had clubs, homework, work, and everything else in the universe coming at me, I made sure to always block out time for my fitness classes at the rec. It all came down to putting myself at the center of my life, not the tasks I had to do. I signed up for fitness classes or went and ran my own workouts because it was so healthy for me mentally and helped me naturally balance everything else in my life. Balancing my life means putting me in the middle, not student me, worker me, secretary me, but me as a whole.
What has kept you motivated throughout your time at MCN as a nursing student?
My friends both in and outside of the nursing program. I have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people, and having their love and support has been life-changing. Also, I have been lucky to have amazing clinical instructors who saw me and my classmates as whole people beyond students and supported us in this phase of life. Furthermore, when I come across a hard day in nursing school, I remind myself who I am doing this for. I think of all the people I am going to meet. I think of my grandparents and family whom I only want the best care for. I think of my mom who made it through nursing school. I think of how much I love to work with others. When the going gets tough, there are so many different things to be grateful for, and that reminds me that I am capable and that I am not alone.
Please describe a specific clinical experience or class that significantly impacted your growth as a future nurse.
I think one of my most impactful clinical experiences was working with an older woman who was going through a lot of changes at once. She was incredibly kind and patient even though she expressed unease with her hospital experience. Despite it all, she kept reassuring me that she could never lose and would always win because she’s here and she’s improving day by day. The week after I took care of her, she was getting discharged and even though she wasn’t getting discharged home, she trusted and was confident everything was going to be ok. She was going through a lot of major changes, a lot of stress, and overwhelm, yet she was so kind and understanding. She was just grateful for all the help she received. Even me washing her hair was something that made her so happy. I cannot help everyone but, for the people I do, I will always be happy to be part of their journey!
Where do you hope to be post-graduation, starting as a first-year nurse?
I would love to work in an inpatient oncology setting; however, I also am very excited to get experience. I enjoy working on med-surg, and I am learning about rehab services this summer, so I will have more experience before next fall. I want to work with adults and older populations.
Explain any jobs/internships/shadow opportunities you have had as an ISU student:
This summer, I started an internship with Northwestern Medicine at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. It is an eight-week experience throughout this summer, and I am currently in orientation. I am very excited to get started on their stroke rehabilitation floor next week!
What on-campus organizations are you involved in?
Throughout my time at ISU, I have been in a lot of different organizations. During these past few semesters, I was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service sorority here on campus. I also was a labbie for the spring semester at the Nursing Simulation Center and helped run simulations. Furthermore, this past year I was the secretary of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) and, next year, I will be taking on the role of president. I also work as a tutor for BSC 160 at the Julia N. Visor Center and as a peer mentor for the Honors Program.
Is there anything else you would like to include about your experiences winning the Bone Scholarship?
Thank you to everyone who believes in me every day, especially the days I don’t. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to represent myself, my family, and everyone who has supported me along the way.
Lastly, what does being a nurse mean to you personally?
For me, being a nurse means being able to make someone’s day a little better. I can’t solve all the medical problems of the world, but I can do my best to help someone going through a hard time feel a little better in whatever way they need, whether that means a shoulder to cry on, a person to vent to, or someone to be as positive as possible. Being a nurse means I will be touching a lot of lives, and I hope that touch makes their day a little easier than it was before.
