Tripler Army Medical Center –
Meet Capt. Lucinda Agyeman, who was born and raised in the Republic of Ghana. She has been in the military for a total of 22 years, 13 years as a reservist and nine years active duty. She has been a nurse for nine years, and currently works as a Certified Emergency Nurse.
Learn more about Capt. Lucinda Agyeman in the Q&A below!
Q: What inspired you to become a nurse?
Watching my sister recover from a terrible injury caused by a motor vehicle accident. The care from the medical staff, especially the nurses, moved me. Just six months my sister was nursed back to her normal self, and I told myself that I wanted to be able to bring that same joy I felt back into someone else’s family by becoming a nurse.
Q: What are five reasons to become a nurse?
- It is an awesome way to give back to humanity
- Very rewarding to be able to nurse patients back to their normal selves
- Lots of avenues to pursue as a nurse: Emergency, OR, OB, Psych etc.
- You get to work with a variety of providers with different specialties
- The pay is not bad either, and you will always have a job
Q: What advice would you give to a student interested in becoming a nurse?
My advice to students would be to do their research. Become a nursing assistant prior to pursuing nursing. You must have a heart or spirit of service, because it can be emotionally draining and sometimes the things we see as nurses are difficult. Also, you need to be kind-hearted and empathetic, even when the patients you are taking care of are not kind.
Q: How do you inspire future nurses?
By mentoring and teaching them what I have learned, and showing them the path and the rewards that following by becoming a nurse.