Kristen Gutierrez is a Nursing major who will graduate from the College of Nursing at Rutgers University, New Brunswick in May 2007. Kristen chose to attend this institution because of the strong nursing program offered at the University. After graduation, she plans to work in critical care nursing and also obtain a Ph.D. in Nursing so she can have an impact in her fields of interest: critical care nursing, and nursing policy and research.

Kristen chose to apply for Project L/EARN because she was interested in research and thought it would be a good learning experience; one much different from her previous work experience as an RU Buddy (a Rutgers University mentorship program that works in collaboration with New Brunswick schools). Through Project L/EARN, Kristen has learned determination, perseverance and has developed an even stronger work ethic. Completing the coursework was initially challenging, but over the duration of the program, she learned skills necessary to meet the challenge successfully.

Kristen summarizes her summer project as a look at theoretical models and illness perceptions associated with chronic illness.