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.