John Hopkins University: Statement of Purpose for Patient Safety

This is a student's statement of purpose for a Master of Applied Science in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality at John Hopkins University. It details the author's personal experiences, particularly a childhood car accident, that sparked an interest in healthcare safety. The statement highlights the applicant's ten years of experience in the healthcare industry, their passion for improving patient and worker safety, and their ambition to address current safety and quality issues within healthcare systems. The author believes that the Master's program at John Hopkins will provide the necessary knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in the field. The document concludes by emphasizing the applicant's self-motivation, readiness for the challenges of the program, and commitment to improving healthcare safety and quality.

Surname 1
Name:
Professor:
Course:
Date:
Statement of purpose
Over the past years, a lot has happened in my life. I remember when I was twelve, a
certain drunk driver hit my mum’s car. I was sitting in the backseat. Though I have very scanty
memories of that accident, all I remember is a serious and a calm face that gently lifted me out of
the car. The accident was not that tragic to say because we all survived, however, I spent several
weeks in the hospital undergoing medication. During my stay there, social as usual, I came to
know the various paramedics, doctors, and nurses in that hospital. Particularly, there is this one
paramedic who was assigned to me and who used to even visit me once I was back to my home.
My experiences at childhood sparked in me the need to address safety in our workplaces. It is
here that I developed a passion for becoming a safety officer.
A few years ago, my dream came true, I joined the university where I majored in
Behavioral Health Science. In the last ten years, I have actively worked in the healthcare industry
ranging from hospitals, surgery centers to clinics. Helping other people to achieve what is best
for them is my strength. Also, I wish to be in charge to make the right decisions for them. It is for
this reason that I am applying to join John Hopkins University for a Master of Applied Science
in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality. This course focusses on the measurement of safety and
quality, designing safer healthcare systems, addresses organizational and cultural changes with
the aim of promoting quality services, patient-centered care as well as preventing patients from
any harm (Emanuel et al., 2008). Integrating this course with my 10 years’ experience in the

Surname 2
healthcare systems will help me take my career to the next level. It will expand my knowledge
base and boost my ability to address the challenges in our healthcare systems. Further, it will
help me address patient safety issues in our hospitals as well as the safety of all the workers in
these facilities.
I am really ambitious about making a change in the healthcare systems. With the current
systems, we have a lot of safety and quality issues resulting in both injuries and deaths to patients
and workers (Shekelle et al., 2013). This is the high time an action is taken. It is for this
particular reason that I wish to be considered for the Masters in Patient Safety program at John
Hopkins University. Why I choose this university is because it provides top recognized programs
and has in the past produced several renowned researchers and medical practitioners (Gurses,
Ant Ozok, and Peter 2011). I am passionate about joining such renowned clique of medics from
where I can provide extraordinary care to patients. This is the kind of care system I look forward
to seeing in the hospitals and my future patients. I am a self-driven and passionate individual; I
believe that I am up for the task and ready for the challenge. A chance to enroll in this master’s
program will be an avenue for me to make a change in the healthcare safety and quality systems.

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Works cited.
Emanuel, Linda, Don Berwick, James Conway, John Combes, Martin Hatlie, Lucian Leape,
James Reason, Paul Schyve, Charles Vincent, and Merrilyn Walton. "What exactly is
patient safety?." (2008).
Gurses, Ayse P., A. Ant Ozok, and Peter J. Pronovost. "Time to accelerate integration of human
factors and ergonomics in patient safety." BMJ Qual Saf (2011): bmjqs-2011.
Shekelle, Paul G., Peter J. Pronovost, Robert M. Wachter, Kathryn M. McDonald, Karen
Schoelles, Sydney M. Dy, Kaveh Shojania et al. "The top patient safety strategies that
can be encouraged for adoption now." Annals of Internal Medicine 158, no. 5_Part_2
(2013): 365-368.
White, Kathleen M., Sharon Dudley-Brown, and Mary F. Terhaar, eds. Translation of evidence
into nursing and health care. Springer Publishing Company, 2016.