Aster has impacted the way I approach patient care during clinical. One thing she taught me that has stayed with me is the importance of always understanding the pathophysiology behind what we are doing as nurses. Instead of simply completing a task, she encouraged me to pause and think about why we were doing it and how it related to the patient’s condition.

During clinical, Aster would walk through the reasoning with me, helping me connect the patient’s diagnosis, symptoms, and the interventions we were performing. That approach helped me realize that nursing is not just about completing skills, but about truly understanding the patient and providing thoughtful, informed care. Her ability to think critically and help others develop that same mindset reflects Mercy College of Health Sciences’ core values of knowledge and integrity.