1st Semester Reflection & the "Lessons Learned"

            12 years ago, a blonde hair, blue-eyed little girl in the second grade began telling everyone that she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. Not really knowing exactly what a nurse does, she stuck with it and over the years, it became clear that nursing was indeed her calling and purpose. 92 days ago she began the journey through nursing school and in just 3 short weeks she will be one semester closer to becoming a Registered Nurse.

My life has changed in so many ways since deciding I wanted to be a nurse in the second grade and it has even changed since that first morning of orientation. As I sat in a room full of strangers, I would not have expected that 16 weeks later these strangers would become my second family. Throughout the course of the semester, we have learned numerous skills- injections, catheterizations, NG tube insertions, medication administration, wound care, patient hygiene and so many others that have already been proven useful in the hospital. We have experienced the joys of nursing and what it is like to brighten a patient’s day in even the smallest way and we have also experienced the more humbling aspects of nursing like changing bedpans. To think about all of the skills learned and things accomplished thus far is absolutely amazing! Together we have made the transition of being completely clueless first semester nursing students to actually kind of understanding what’s going on!

            When I think about some of the “lessons learned” during this first semester, these are some of the things that come to mind…
#1. NO ONE MISSES A DAY OF CLASS.
#2. Don’t be late! The professors know your name and probably have your phone number!
#3. 5am alarm clock = heart attack. EVERY SINGLE TIME.  
#4. Coffee. Coffee. More coffee.COFFEE.coffee. and if you don’t like it…learn to like it!
#5. Excess studying and homework gets a nursing student some reading glasses… so thank you nursing school for my 1^st pair of reading glasses
#6. TESTS! There are multiple right answers..the real trick is to pick the BEST one
#7. ~Sleep~Studying~Social life~ PICK TWO.
#8. Regardless of how much studying is done, no one is ever fully prepared for tests/quizzes
#9. There is a correct way to make a bed…I’ve been doing it wrong for 19 years.
#10. Take it one day at a time and HAVE FUN…you’ll really stress yourself out if you don’t!

Each week has been a completely new experience, complete with “lessons learned”, repeating cycle full of crazy fun memories and long homework nights followed by early morning alarm clocks. I am surrounded by a great group of people that encourage me, challenge me, and keep me accountable on a daily basis. My nursing girls are some of the most outgoing, silly, lively and genuine people that I have ever met. I can already tell that the friendships that I have made in nursing school are going to be lifelong friends, maybe even more like sisters.

Friendships outside of nursing school have been stretched, strained, and some have even dwindled away. However, for those friends who continue to stand by me and prayerfully continue to encourage me, I am eternally thankful. These people have been my listening ear, my shoulder to cry on and my source of laughter when things have become overwhelming and stressful and even my “patients” when I need to practice my clinical skills. They truly are blessings from the Lord and I cannot imagine going through this experience without them.

As I began nursing school I had several fears in the back of my mind- what if I was wrong about nursing? What if I was supposed to do something else? What if I didn’t do well in my classes? It was all from satan! One of the biggest things I have learned this semester is the importance of trusting God. Whenever I feel like I’m sinking or begin questioning why I am in the nursing profession I am quickly reminded that the Lord has a purpose and to never lose my trust in Him. This semester has proven to me on numerous occasions that I am doing what God has uniquely designed me to do. He never fails me and I am continually in awe of his faithfulness and perfect plan for me. I cannot imagine myself being in any other profession or nursing school, it is such a wonderful feeling to know that I am where the Lord has called me to be, doing exactly what it is that he has called me to do- to serve and glorify Him through the nursing.

This first semester of nursing school has gone by so incredibly fast, I can only hope that the remaining semesters are just as quick and enjoyable. I am so thankful for the never-ending love and support from family and friends, without you I probably would not be in the place that I am today. I have been blessed with an incredible opportunity that has already changed my life in so many ways. I cannot even begin to imagine what other wonderful things God has planned for me as I continue to faithfully and wholeheartedly serve Him through the nursing profession.

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

“I can do this through Him who gives me strength”
Philippians 4:13

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

 

Teamwork!

Nursing School has taught me a lot about the importance of teamwork and collaboration. I’ve learned the importance of my little nursing cohort working together in order to survive these last few weeks of class as well as the next two and a half years of nursing school. These classmates are the people that I spend every day with, the people that I rely on for help and come to for advice. We are collectively working toward the common goal- the successful completion of nursing school. Just as we work side by side with our peers on a daily basis and strive to attain a common goal, the same concept is visible in the hospital environment. Different healthcare disciplines communicate and work together to achieve the optimal level of care for each patient in order to see the patient’s level of health improve. This quality of care is achieved through effective teamwork and good communication between disciplinary teams. This communication is the basis of patient safety in complex situations and is important in setting and completing priorities as well as reducing the number of errors that occur in the patient care setting. It would be extremely difficult take care of one patient without any outside assistance, let alone five patients for a full twelve-hour shift. For this very reason there are different teams to focus on different aspects of a patient’s health, because nurses cannot do everything themselves. This is a key concept to keep in mind while caring for patients, I cannot do it all myself and that it is perfectly okay to ask for help whenever needed. As a RN I can be sure to include and involve all appropriate healthcare personal in the care of my patients. Although this may not necessarily be as easily done as it is said, it is very crucial in providing effective care and improving a patient’s health and wellness. In doing so I will hopefully be able to ensure safety and quality for all my patients. It is important to me that my patients receive the best care that they possibly can because if I were the patient I too would hope that my nurse would do whatever necessary to help improve my level of health and quality of life.  

The Reality of Change.

                Countless coffee runs, late night study sessions, and early morning wake up calls are just a few of the things that I’ve become accustomed to since starting this new chapter in life. I can honestly say that I have read my textbooks more in the last 6 weeks than I have in the last year and a half of college. I have learned the true value of sleep and the consequences of minimal sleep followed by a 10-hour clinical day. I couldn’t tell you what’s happening on the trending tv shows or even the last time I went out to see a movie with friends. However, I can tell you how to properly wash your hands, make a bed (which apparently I’ve been doing wrong for the last 19 years?!) and even how to insert an NG tube. I have also learned that nursing school is all about critical thinking and problem solving. Oh and there’s always multiple right answers but the real trick is to pick the “BEST” answer. Life is changing more and more every day and it has been quite the adjustment.

 I knew that starting nursing school would mean a change but the reality of that change hit me like a freight train. I’ve struggled greatly with the realization that maintaining friendships and relationships with the people around me is becoming harder and harder with each passing day. The time to spend with friends outside of the nursing program is minimal and when it does happen, it almost feels as if my schedule conflicts with the world…or just the majority of my friends. Rather than spending weekends doing fun things with friends or visiting family, I now spend time reading textbooks and taking notes on the assigned readings for the following week. I know it is not exactly the most eventful fun-filled thing ever but hey, that is just a part of life now. I am seeing the value of friends who are willing to work around such a crazy schedule to hangout and also the unfortunate reality of those who don’t feel the same way. There is also this constant battle between having fun and getting good grades and a combination of the two is a fine line. I am still learning how to find that perfect balance but when I figure it all out, I’ll be sure to let you know! 

It has certainly been a little bit of a struggle but only by the grace of God am I able to continue in this journey known as nursing school. Although I find myself stressed by the workload and never-ending studying, I am confident in Christ and his plan for me. Each day I am reminded what a blessing it is to be a part of this nursing program and that God has an even greater plan for me than I could ever imagine. Whenever I feel as though I’m in this alone I need to remember that Christ is right beside me and in my struggles, His name is made great. I hope and pray that His light will continue to shine through me, to give hope and inspiration to those around me.

“The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” Psalm 33:20-22

Keeping God My Priority

Wake up. Get ready. Go to class. Lunch break. Class again. Dinner. Homework. Study. Homework. Shower. Did I mention homework?! Get ready for bed. Set the alarm. Repeat the next day.

How often do we find ourselves so busy and overwhelmed that we hardly have the time or even take the time to sit down and spend time with God? This seems to be happening less and less as our schedules get busier and busier with each passing day. I knew that with starting nursing school came a big lifestyle change. The things that I enjoyed doing in my free time would soon be replaced with reading giant textbooks and doing homework until my eyeballs fall out. My life would soon become consumed with this incredible journey that I am now beginning.  Shifts at work would be cut down; time with friends would be limited and family dinners scarce but the one thing that must not be compromised is my time with God. It’s only been 2 weeks and nursing school is already teaching me and showing me so many things about my own relationship with God that I had never realized. The most evident so far is the importance of keeping God at the center of ALL things. It is important to never let anyone or anything become more important than my relationship with God.  I know these next three years will most likely be the most challenging years of my life. However, I cannot forget Who I am working for, someone greater than I could ever be- God. I need to rid me of myself and give it all to Him, my accomplishments and failures, fear and struggles and everything in between. I need to continue to trust that He is in control of all things and be sure to keep Him my #1 priority because without Him, these next 3 years of nursing school (and life in general) is going to be impossible. With the consuming schedule of being a nursing student, I cannot put spending time with Him off until the homework is finished or as I’m falling asleep but rather start my day with God and end my day with God and be thinking about him throughout the day as well.  I can’t put Him in a box in the corner until I need Him; He needs to be my Everything. As distractions and things come my way in the coming years I need to realize what is important and what is not.  Luke 14:33 says “Any of you who do not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple”. God wants us to give it all up to Him and know that He is in control and that by doing so, we are able to better serve Him.  I hope and pray that I can continue to give myself to Christ over these next 3 years of nursing school so that I may continue to serve Him and bring Him glory.

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

--In Christ Alone--

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand