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Reflection
Today’s the day of our pinning and I feel a mix of emotions: happy, excited, proud, scared, sad…
I am so proud of all of my classmates and happy that we have made it to the end. All of our blood, sweat, and tears have brought us to this point and I couldn’t be more excited for our futures. I have made lifelong friends in this program and will be sad when we all go off on our separate ways, but I know we will all look back on these years with good memories.
Looking back on the last 3 years, I realize how much I have changed and how much I have learned. Every lecture, sim, project, test, discussion board, and clinical day has built up my knowledge, critical thinking, abilities/skills, and emotional/psychological strength. I still can’t say I’m 100% confident in myself, but I’ve come a long way since the beginning when I was unsure if I was even capable of being a nurse. I know I’m capable now, and I know that I can make a difference in the nursing profession and in people’s lives with what I have to offer.
What do I have to offer?
I have my knowledge and critical thinking skills – which I’ve gained from amazing instructors and preceptors who knew how to encourage, push, shape, and mold us. I will use this to recognize potential problems, initiate proper interventions, and educate when needed.
I have my compassion – which has grown even more in the last 3 years. I will use this to care for every patient as if they were my own family member or friend.
I have my determination and perseverance – something I have come to learn about myself. I do not give up and I do not let failure bring me down. I will use this to make sure every patient under my care has the best care.
I have my humor – which will help keep things light when situations are dark.
and I have another one that I thought I could never use in this field… my creative side. When I joined nursing school, I was prepared to say goodbye to my artsy crafts and drawings. But I’ve learned that I can use my drawings to help patients. I have already used my pictures numerous times to help with patient education when language or hearing barriers got in the way.
I don’t know what type of nursing I will end up in, but I have been well prepared and I am ready for it!
Graduation
As I look back on my journey I can not believe how fast it went. Even at rehearsal for pinning, I couldn’t believe that all these chairs and stage were for us. I remember how I felt the first day of nursing school as I felt overwhelmed with the workload and trying to find my way in the nursing world.
Before I started critical care I believe that it was just another rotation that I have to complete to graduation because my true passion was public health. During clinical, I was surprised that critical care held my interest and I looked forward to clinical. I remember feeling so nervous for my medical surgical clinical that I would be worried the whole day before. I felt my comfortable with my skills and taking the more of a leadership role. I believe that critical care gave me the confidence that I needed to start my care in a hospital setting. With every patient I had this semester I felt that I made a difference in the patient’s care by actively asking questions and wanting to understand the care of a critical ill patient.
I am currently excited, but terrified of the future. CSUCI nursing was my home for three years. I felt that I was supported by staff and created long lasting relationships that will continue to impact the kind of nurse I will be.
