Final Blog
Reflecting on just three months shy of three years brings tears to my eyes. Tears of joy, laughter, sadness, and hope. We entered this program as strangers and we are leaving as family. Through the program, it seemed to go by slow; now, the remaining ten days are flying by. Each day, I try to slow it down a bit and take in the moment because nursing school is the greatest experience thus far in my life. I will forever treasure each moment we all created together. I have made lifelong friends and through it all have made substantial personal growth.
I underestimated the nursing profession prior to the start of the program. However, I know now that nurses are truly superheroes, irrespective of the specialty we enter. We have the pleasure of delivering babies, sitting next to those who take their last breath, and everything in between. We change lives every single day. We keep patients alive medically and emotionally. We care for families and have learned to better care for our own loved ones and ourselves. We are advocates. We are the most dedicated group of individuals that I have ever met. Nursing is a profession that I am proud to be part of. If I could afford to do it for free, I would.
I remember how terrified I was to learn my head-to-toe assessment and perform it in front of the lab instructors. Next was the foley catheter insertion. Today, I can perform these skills with my eyes closed. I will forever cherish all the care I have been honored to perform with members of my cohort. I have learned to trust my intuition and my knowledge. I remember learning that there may be a chance we could insert catheters in this semester and I was terrified. However, I have learned that the unknown is what I fear the most. Knowing this, I am ready to move forward and experience what life will bring to my next chapter.
Critical care has been such a wonderful gift as our last semester. I truly believe it is the perfect way to end this program. I have learned more in this semester than ever before; I know now that I am ready for the transition to call myself a RN. I have learned what to do and what not to do. I have gained a myriad of insight into the type of nurse I want to be. I vow not to get “lazy” with my interventions or assessments. I want to change the world one day at a time; as nurses, I believe we can. For me, critical care has transformed me into a butterfly; throughout nursing school, I have been a caterpillar. I am ready to fly.
We have worked so hard to get to this moment. Pinning and commencement is around the corner, and we deserve to celebrate us. All our hard work and accomplishments will pay off with beautiful, fulfilling careers. Amazing job to everyone and a special thank you to each and every instructor we have had as they are such a huge inspiration. They have truly changed my life. I couldn’t have or wouldn’t want to endure this journey without our cohort. Congratulations and thank you for impacting my life. I am forever grateful and I love you all <3
