Nursing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mother worked her way from Home Health Aide to CNA to nurse. My aunt in Haiti has spent decades working as a nurse, serving in underprivileged communities and working in a scope of practice that some would consider to be a nurse practitioner.

I attended Clara Barton High School for Health Professions where I was part of the LPN program while I was a high school junior and senior. I spent my formative years watching my mother struggle to the position she is in now and personally I faced many of those same challenges. In July 2012, I became licensed as an LPN. In November 2015, I graduated from Helene Fuld College of Nursing with my Associates Degree and became licensed as a registered nurse in January 2016.

Most of my experience in nursing has been in long term care. Through this experience, I realized that I was coming into the homes of my patients and had to learn to treat it as such. I saw my residents more than their own family did. I was quickly introduced to family members as the "nursing home daughter." By developing a strong rapport with my residents, I was able to provide them with the best quality of care: care with them in mind. I currently work at a nursing home and rehabilitation center in Brooklyn on a short term skilled rehabilitation floor. My goal is to help patients reach a state of functioning that they were unable to reach previously due to debility and disease. 

I chose to attend CUNY School for Professional Studies so that I could continue my education and still have time to manage my responsibilities. My ultimate goal is to work as a pediatric nurse and then transition into becoming a family nurse practitioner and a nursing educator. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit about me and my educational journey at CUNY SPS. 

Enjoy!

Kelita Raphael