One down, five to go...

Student: "Yes! It's already week 11!... Wait, no... Week 12?..."
Me: "IT'S WEEK 13 AND WE ONLY HAVE 3 WEEEKS LEFT, WHICH IS 504 HOURS, OR 30,240 MINUTES, OR 1,814,400 SECONDS!"

Yes, I am THAT girl. With the semester dwindling down I have become very aware of how much time is left until summer break. OK, maybe I have known this whole semester, but that's not the point! IT IS ALMOST SUMMER TIME! The last 13 weeks have been everything and anything more than I could have ever expected from my first semester of nursing school. From using nail polish remover instead of alcohol pads to giving injections and removing catheters, I have not only grown as a student nurse but my heart has grown an overwhelming joy through the service of helping others. And to top it off, I never had to visit Professor Martin outside of class... PHEW! Considering how fast this semester has gone by, I cannot even imagine how fast the next five semesters are going to fly by. From the get go I was told to embrace every moment because the next 3 years were going to pass quickly; however in the moment all I could think about what graduating. What I have come to realize throughout this journey was my doubt in regards to being where God wanted me to be. This was a recurring struggle this semester. Often I would find myself drowning in what seemed to be a giant ocean of doubt and fear, when in reality it was nothing more than a mere two foot deep pond. I lacked in faith a lot of times and I struggled to find meaning in my decisions to join the profession of nursing, but God was quick to remind of the work he was performing in my heart. During the difficult times that I so badly wanted to escape were the moments the Lord was refining me and chiseling away the unnecessary baggage I attempted to carry along His path for me. My advice to those who may be experiencing this and are constantly reminding themselves, "one down, five to go", I encourage you to slow down. These moments you are rushing through are the moments you are going to wish you would have taken advantage of three years from now. Slow down and ask the Lord to open your eyes to the things you so often pass. Don't live by momentary faith, but rather continuous faith. I was lucky enough to see this truth before it was too late, and I cannot wait for what the future holds!

                                >> These moments are temporary, but our God is forever <<

Nursing Communication: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

One of the major skills required in nursing is good communication. When I was accepted into the nursing program I quickly realized the importance and the effects of great communication skills. If I even considered surviving the first week, I had to begin communicating with my future classmates and start making some friends for the struggle ahead. Within the first month, clinical's had snuck up on us and next thing you knew we were at the hospital. The first thing I noticed about the nurses I encountered was their level of communication. I began to think how important the information was in regards to giving report. If you think about it, one misspelled word or one omitted fact could cost the life of a patient. However, as the days passed, I began to focus more on the communication between nurse and patient, in which I frequently found myself consumed by their discussion. It was then that I realized that failure to communicate passionately and wholeheartedly with a patient can destroy the nurse/patient relationship. The nurse/patient relationship is built on a great level of trust as you care for the individual during their most vulnerable moments. In order to maintain this relationship, I have concluded what the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of communication among nurses are.

1. The Good
It is important to always be prepared and know what you are going to say when entering the patient's room. If you are prepared, you are more likely to communicate better and answer any of the patients questions without hesitation. It is also important to use words that the patient will be able to understand. Understanding can be recognized through verbal and nonverbal cues that nurses should also be able to pick up on.
2. The Bad
Many nurses do not take the time needed to interact and get to the know their patient. This may be due to a hectic schedule or simply because of a lack of privacy. For some nurses, they lack communication skills making it difficult to relay pertinent information to the patient. When patients are not receiving adequate time and information from their nurses, they may begin to complain. If a nurse is lacking in communication skills, this only worsens the situation because the nurse may feel uncomfortable and lacking in overall control of the situation.
3. The Ugly
The inability to communicate effectively can cause major misunderstanding between the nurse and patient. When this happens, the patients safety is at risk. When communication becomes fuzzy it is more likely that the nurse will make medication errors and possibly create an incorrect nursing diagnosis. The patient thought they were in good hands; however, it is quite opposite.

Halfway There or Halfway Over?

"So we take what comes

And we keep on going

Leaning on each other's shoulders

Then we turn around

And see we've come so far somehow

We're halfway there"

(Artist: Big Time Rush, Song: Halfway There)

These simple words put into a catchy song explain every thing I have felt this past week.

As a beginning nursing student I have continued to hear that the next three years of school will fly by in the blink of an eye. In the midst of reading chapters, studying for exams, and practicing our head to toe assessments, I have wanted nothing more than for this first semester to end. As I began reflecting on what people have told me and what I am currently feeling, I asked myself, "How can these two things possibly be intertwined?" As the battle raged on in my mind I was determined to find the correlation. The lyrics cited above provided a very clear answer. 

The first semester of nursing school is when you create friendships and bonds with classmates who will progressively carry you to the end of nursing school and your future careers. How could I possibly desire to rush through the most vital time period of my experience as a nursing student? Being half way through the first semester has allowed me to turn around and see how far I have come. Not only in regards to my education, but also in the lifetime friendships that have already began to blossom. Realizing such a thing has enabled me to boldly say that I am halfway there, not halfway over. Being "halfway there" propels me toward my future, while being "halfway over" only insinuates a dreadful attitude. I know that one day I will look back and wish I was at the halfway mark again.

The End Of My Social Life

The end of my social life... or is it the beginning?

     As a new nursing student, I frequently catch myself saying, "I have no life". My weekdays consist of work and school, tons of reading, and minimal hours of sleep. However, on the weekends I like to switch it up by going out on dates. Study dates, that is. Where we grab a cup of joe, whip open our twenty pound books, insert our headphones, and speak only when spoken to. With that being said, it is no wonder I feel as though "I have no life", but one thing led to another and my vision as a nursing student began to shift.  

     For most girls, they would say that the key to any successful relationship is ones ability to communicate. The social aspect of nursing far outweighs any relationship I have yet to encounter. Imagine being provided one opportunity to develop a trusting, honest, and respectful relationship with a complete stranger in a matter of minutes. This is something that would frighten most individuals; however, this is what pushes me to expand my social life into a new realm of uncertainty and mystery.
     I no longer view being a nurse as a career; rather it is whom I am choosing to become. The more I look at it as a career, the more overwhelmed I become and I no longer focus on my desire to serve others, but rather bring all the attention to myself. Knowing that Christ has sewn this passion into the deepest parts of my heart keeps me smiling through this period of transformation and refinement.

     I have not only gained new brothers and sisters in Christ, but I will soon be gaining timeless relationships with my future patients and their families. It seems as though what I thought was the end of my social life 
is really the beginning.