Teresita Contreras

I am proud and humbled at the same time as I feel so blessed as I have always excelled academically but that is through hardwork and persistence and giving always my best shot in whatever I do. I have graduated valedictorian from elementary (accelerated to Grade 7)and high school ( Special Science Class)and qualified as the National State Scholar ( government scholar representative of region Manila, Philippines) and this funded my college degree tuition-wise. I have graduated Magna Cum Laude for my Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class 1977 (University of Santo Tomas School of Nursing ) and did my Master in Public Health ( MPH) Class 1985 ( University of the Philippines ) as a Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Fellow so I felt lucky I was recommended by my faculty for this scholarship and passed the qualifying interview by the FRG representative . That meant I got funded for my MPH and was able to take a sabbatical leave. I was Assistant Professor/ College Secretary at the University of the City of Manila and getting trained for Dean of the College of Nursing as supposedly the next in line when I got recruited from the Philippines as a Registered Nurse (RN) for Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York . Subsequently , I qualified as Senior Staff Nurse (Staff Nurse III) for my unit and became a Member of the Senior Staff Nurse Council organizing Nursing Grand Rounds at Weiler at that time. I found my next challenge to upgrade myself professionally by pursuing the Master of Science in Nursing with Family Nurse Practitioner degree (College of Mt. St. Vincent , Riverdale , NY) and got the New york State Primary Health Care scholarship and successfully finished 2001. At work, I have continued to serve as new RN preceptor and did some inservice education for the staff of my unit. I had been privileged to have trained and mentored many RNs ( lost track of how many) in my 25+ years as Senior Staff Nurse of my unit. I have served as Adjunct Faculty for New York University College of Nursing for five years till 2008 and I had been the Clinical Placement Coordinator Undergraduate Program ( part-time ) for three years till 2015 for The College of New Rochelle School of Nursing. Currently , I am doing my Doctor of Nursing Practice( DNP) at Pace University Lienhard School of Nursing hopefully graduating May 2017. Since I have served 25 + years at Montefiore Medical Center , I am a member of the prestigious 25- Year Club. I hope to inspire our new nurses to challenge themselves to transform nursing to the ideals of Florence Nightingale so help us God...