Pamela Lee

"As I work consistently on my professional growth in nursing leadership and assist in enhancing care excellence, I have also begun steps to support leadership by serving on multiple committees."

What were some of the most defining aspects of your time at CUNY SPS?

I chose CUNY SPS due to their dual BSN-MSN nursing tracks that allowed me to achieve my current and future academic goals simultaneously. While my classes were online, I sought out to become an active member of the CUNY SPS community by participating in events and activities as they presented themselves. I worked at CUNY SPS as a college assistant for a time providing peer mentorship and support for newly enrolled students. Some of my most defining moments were being awarded the ACE Scholarship and becoming a peer mentor providing support to other students within the nursing program. I was also inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success, which was quite an honor.

What is the best piece of advice, or most important thing you learned at CUNY SPS?

Aside from my nursing education, my time at CUNY SPS taught me that it is never too late to achieve your academic and career goals. Life often presents challenges that can be difficult to navigate especially when you have responsibilities to your job and family. Having the ability to go to school at your own pace means that you can dispel the myth that the journey may be too difficult to navigate. By staying the course, you can find the momentum needed to be successful in attaining your higher education goals. You just have to take the first step and that is simply by starting with registration.

Who influenced you the most? Please feel free to include anyone from the CUNY SPS community including faculty, staff, or fellow classmates.

I was continually inspired by my classmates every semester. While we walked our paths to graduation and completion, their stories, drive, and determination remained unwavering. I am proud to have learned from and with them. The nursing faculty and staff were also phenomenal and instrumental. The support I received from Dr. Margaret Reilly and Dr. Linda Paradiso was unwavering and I owe many of my accomplishments to them. Knowing that they were just a phone call away for support if I had any questions or issues was undoubtedly instrumental to my successes.

How has your CUNY SPS influenced your current job, and your career overall?

After graduating and completing my ASN at Medgar Evers, I chose to attend CUNY SPS as their online nursing programs received many accolades and positive reviews. The education and experiences that I completed during my time at CUNY SPS have enhanced my clinical skills and fostered the important foundations that are necessary for a nurse leader. These skills have enhanced my professional sense of self to feel confident about having open dialogues with fellow leadership members and contributing to my facility’s best outcomes. My educational experiences have also prepared me to be open to opportunities that I had not previously considered. I am now prepared to contribute openly and avidly to quality and performance improvement measures including policy improvement and care access.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

As a pediatric nurse working with patients with chronic illnesses, I need to maintain a positive attitude by providing comprehensive and compassionate care to my patients and their families. One of the things that I pride myself on is nursing from the heart and building those strong supportive relationships that are needed to achieve healthcare goals. As I work consistently on my professional growth in nursing leadership and assist in enhancing care excellence, I have also begun steps to support leadership by serving on multiple committees such as the Ambulatory Shared Governance Council to improve nurse-driven advocacy and the Person-Centered Care Committee where our facility recently achieved Plane Tree certification. The idea of being considered for such positions shows that I am a valued member of my leadership team and that my contributions provide proof that I am making a difference.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I look forward to continuing my career progress within nursing leadership within positions such as those in nursing administration either as an ADN or in Quality Management. Recently, I have begun teaching as a nursing clinical adjunct professor and would eventually consider a position as faculty within nursing education as well.

OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

• What show/s are you currently watching? I started watching a series called Dr. Death on Peacock recently that seems to be pretty interesting.
• What is your favorite meal? My favorite meal is garlic shrimp scampi with stuffed clams.
• What is your favorite line in a movie? “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” -Jaws
• Favorite or most recent book you read?  As a child, my favorite book was “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein. Now anything by James Patterson seems to always be a win in my book.
• Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, none, all?  Over the years, my social media existence has honestly dwindled to nothing but professionally I have begun to use LinkedIn more.
• List 3 things you would bring to a deserted island. For practical reasons items such as a knife, tent, and of course, as a nurse, I would say a first aid kit, however, in our technologically advanced world I would request a fully solar paneled house, satellite telephone, and a yacht so I can sail away when I ready to return to civilization

Read more about RN to BS-MS in Nursing Organizational Leadership (Accelerated)