Syreeta Drake M.S.N.,听is a full-time nursing & health careers instructors at 麻豆映画传媒.听
鈥淐ulminating the art of care and compassion thru the synergy of mind, body, and spirit鈥� is Syreeta Drake鈥檚 nursing philosophy. Becoming newly tenured in January as a full-time nursing instructor at 麻豆映画传媒, Drake added that, 鈥淪kills can be taught, but caring and compassion, not so much.鈥�听
This is why Drake鈥檚 focus as an instructor is making sure her students can put into practice and apply what they learn, giving them a certain foundational knowledge to succeed.听
Beginning as an adjunct instructor in 2019, and then becoming a part of the full-time Nursing Faculty later that year, Drake said that she 鈥渢ook the scenic route鈥� when referencing her own educational journey.听
Drake said she always wanted to teach, but it was after caring for her late mother through a traumatic experience and witnessing other nurses in action that she decided to pursue an education in nursing.听听
She enrolled in and completed the LPN program at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), and after six years working as an LPN, she returned to school to complete her Associate of Nursing degree. While continuing to work, she went on to complete an online Bachelor of Nursing degree at Western Governors University, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing Education.听
It was at this point that Drake realized the significance and impact that nurses have in teaching, which became her focus.听听
鈥淧articularly in something like nursing, you can give people the benefit of all your wisdom, if they鈥檙e willing to listen and they鈥檙e not too hung up on who the information is coming from,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou can really impact lives.鈥�听
Drake said she appreciates the culture at MCC where she has close relationships with her students and is able to support their learning needs.听
The married mother of a son and daughter, Drake feels it is rewarding to see the 鈥渓ight bulbs鈥� come on in her students after they have been challenged and she has helped them to translate knowledge into critical thinking and safe application that creates a competent and compassionate nurse.听
Currently pursuing a post-Master鈥檚 certificate program in psychiatric nursing, Drake encourages those considering nursing to remember that they already have two precious resources to succeed 鈥� time and energy.听
Drake encourages students not to get discouraged by wait lists for nursing programs, and advises those interested in the field to always be in nurse mode, assessing situations and environments they are in and getting in the mindset and thought process of being a nurse.听
An active member of several nursing organizations, including the Grand Rapids Black Nurses Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Drake is also an esthetician and a published author, working on her second book.听
Wearing many hats, Drake continues to show compassion to those she reaches and instill a sense of compassion in those that she teaches.听
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