Srinya Julie Sukrachan, 鈥14, 鈥18, spent way too much time in the hospital as a child. But when she donned her scrubs and walked into Swedish Hospital as a registered nurse this past August, she was overjoyed. The intervening years had changed her life 鈥 and her perspective.
After being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 10, Sukrachan began a rigorous course of treatment that required regular hospital visits. Following years of medication adjustments, she finally went into remission. But by then, she was visiting another hospital for a different reason: Her father had been diagnosed with colon cancer. He passed away when she was just 15.
Sukrachan knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care so she could make a difference in the lives of other patients and their families, but she didn鈥檛 know where to begin.
Charting a course
The summer before her senior year at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Sukrachan spent a week at . A free program supported by philanthropy and run by the 91探花School of Nursing, the camp introduces the possibility of a career in nursing to a small cohort of high school students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds.
鈥淚t was inspiring to be around students who looked like me and had ambitious goals,鈥 Sukrachan says. 鈥淲e got certified in CPR. We listened to heart and lung sounds on high-tech simulation mannequins. We got to shadow nurses at 91探花Medical Center. At the end of the week, I knew I wanted to be a nurse.鈥
With her goal firmly in mind, Sukrachan set off to attend the UW. She took prerequisites for the major. She started working in the office of a chronic pain management clinic to bolster her r茅sum茅 and gain experience in the field 鈥 and every year, she returned to Nurse Camp as a volunteer and mentor.
But when she applied to the School of Nursing as a junior, she wasn鈥檛 accepted. The following year, she applied again and got the same result.
鈥淚 was really confused and frustrated,鈥 says Sukrachan. 鈥淏ut in the back of my mind, I thought, 鈥業鈥檓 not getting in for a reason. They鈥檙e not going to admit me if I鈥檓 not ready for it.鈥欌
Third time鈥檚 a charm
Sukrachan went on to graduate from the 91探花with a degree in medical anthropology and global health in 2014, but she continued to seek out the mentorship of Carolyn Chow, co-founder of 91探花Nurse Camp and then the director of admissions and student diversity at the School of Nursing.
鈥淪he helped me reflect on why I didn鈥檛 get in and what I could work on,鈥 says Sukrachan. 鈥淲ith her encouragement, I became a CNA [certified nursing assistant] and started working in an assisted living home. It really helped me figure out patient care from the nurse鈥檚 perspective.鈥
After spending a year working and attending workshops at the 91探花to sharpen her application essay, Sukrachan applied to the School of Nursing a third time 鈥 and got in.
鈥淕etting patient experience alongside a nurse practitioner made all the difference for Srinya,鈥 says Chow. 鈥淪he fully understood what kind of relationships she wanted to have with her patients, and she was one of the strongest applicants.鈥
Serving others
With the help of several scholarships, Sukrachan could fully embrace her student experience the second time around. 鈥淭hat support definitely took a huge burden off. I didn鈥檛 have to work my first year, so I could focus on my studies,鈥 she says.
Sukrachan also took on the role of volunteer coordinator for Nurse Camp for two years and co-founded , a registered student organization that provides pre- and current nursing students 鈥 especially those from underrepresented and underserved communities 鈥 with advice, networking opportunities and tips on the application process.
鈥淚t felt so right,鈥 says Sukrachan. 鈥淲e had just finished volunteering at Nurse Camp, which provides amazing opportunities for high schoolers. We thought, 鈥榃hy can鈥檛 we do the same for minority, low-income students at the 91探花who want to get into our program?鈥欌
Says Chow, 鈥淪tarting a student organization like Future Nurses Club takes considerable work and commitment, but Srinya was focused on giving back. She鈥檚 a true role model.鈥
Today, Sukrachan is an antepartum nurse at Swedish Hospital鈥檚 First Hill campus, caring for women with high-risk pregnancies. She spends even more time in hospitals than she did as a girl, but now there鈥檚 nowhere else she鈥檇 rather be.
Support the nurses of tomorrow
is a free weeklong day camp that increases access to the field for underrepresented and low-income high school students. By supporting the camp, you can help students like Srinya Julie Sukrachan explore a nursing career.