A few months ago, we kicked off an exciting promotion here at StressedOutNurses.com. With a $500 scholarship in hand, we went on a search to find a deserving student who coped with stress and exemplified the qualities of an excellent nurse. Professors from around the country sent in dozens of essays on behalf of their students. One stood out above the rest.

“It’s hard to describe,” says Stephanie Oliver, a professor at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Phil Campbell, AL. “She just has such a wonderful personality. She is so caring. She has a way of making patients feel special and important no matter what she is doing.”

She is Erin Nestor, the recipient of our $500 scholarship, thanks to an essay written by Oliver.

Oliver has gotten to know Nestor very well during the past two semesters. She was her course leader and her clinical instructor. “I spend a lot of time with the students in clinical,” Oliver says.

Nestor stood out because of her compassion and attitude. (”You just don’t see that often,” Oliver says.) But she also stood out because of her constant struggle with exams.

“[Erin] would tell me about how when she’d get into the test, her heart would beat real fast,” Oliver says. “She’d get so anxious she couldn’t think straight. If you talked to her after or before, it was obvious she knew the information. It’s just that her anxiety was so high she couldn’t focus on the question.”

But Nestor worked at it. She went to Oliver for advice and assistance, used computer programs that helped develop strategies, and made her way through thick books on the topic. The dedication and progress she made were on Oliver’s mind when our Stressed Out promotion found its way to her desk.

“I knew how desperately she needed the money, and I thought it would be wonderful if she could get some help,” Oliver says. “I think she’s very deserving of it.”

After reading the essay that follows, so do we:

I would like to nominate Erin Nestor for the student scholarship. Erin has a great personality and is going to make a difference in many patients’ lives. She is very eager to learn and care for the needs of every patient in the clinical setting. She has excellent clinical skills.

The stress for Erin lies in her test-taking skills. She is currently entering her third semester of nursing school. During her first semester of school, we almost lost her due to stress. She would study hard and still not be able to make good grades. Together, we figured out her problem: test anxiety.

She was determined to overcome this problem and came to me for help. She read extra books and completed computer programs on test taking strategies. She is single and works to support herself. The extra hours she has to work to pay the expenses (school is 60 miles one way) have also affected her ability to study as much as she would like. This scholarship would help her be able to cope with the financial difficulties. She has persevered and overcome a lot of her test taking anxiety.

She finished this past semester with a “B” and a “C.” This was fantastic due to the difficulty of the semester. Your consideration of her for this scholarship will not only impact her future but the future of our patients.

From all of us at StressedOutNurses.com, congratulations, Erin!

Editor’s note: Learn more about Nestor this week. On Thursday, we’ll feature an article about the stress she faces and next Monday, we’ll give you a Q&A about her love of nursing. And don’t forget, we always have contests going on at StressedOutNurses.com. Check it out and see for yourself! And don’t forget about our weekly competition in our free e-newsletter. If you don’t get it, sign up today!