Tuesday, January 22, 2008
N20030: Clinical Journal Entry #1
Tomorrow I begin my first clinical rotation. Each week, we are required to complete a journal entry on our patient, what happened, what we learned, etc. Since we had orientation last week and no patients, our instructor had us write about ourselves, explain why we are going into nursing, list any kind of previous healthcare experience we might have, and state three goals for the semester.
I'm sure these will be fun to reflect back on as the days turn into semesters, and the semesters into years. I have come so far already, yet I know my journey is far from over.
Let's go!
Journal Entry #1
My Story, My Drive, and my Goals
My name is Amanda ***, and although I am in my third year at Kent State, I am currently in my sophomore classes in the College of Nursing. I have been engaged for six months and am mommy to the cutest furbaby ever, my shih tzu/bichon frise cross, Haylie. I live in *** with my parents and little sister, and I am a full time student. In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my fiancé and friends, scrapbooking, traveling, crafting, tutoring, and blogging and shopping online. I can’t wait to graduate with my BSN-RN, get married, pursue my masters’ degree, and start a family. I hope to ultimately go into nurse management or become a pediatric nurse anesthetist.
Nursing is not just a simple career choice for me. To best understand why I’m in this with my whole heart, I think it is necessary that one hears my story. I have no healthcare experience, I don’t have any inspirational nurses in my family, and I definitely never pictured myself being a nurse. But I have spent nearly fifteen years knowing exactly what it’s like to be on the other side of the nurses station… in the bed hooked up to machines… alone and scared to death.
As a victim of a chronic illness, I know how confusing, frustrating, and stressful it can be to live at the mercy of a doctor or a nurse, under the influence of strong medications, and suffocated by pain. I know how unbelievably strong a simple smile or touch can be. In a single instant, I can recognize the difference between a sincere, caring nurse and one just there to make a living. I know the security and blatancy of a confidant, educated, and caring nurse. I know firsthand that such can often be a rare find, but that makes me even more determined to be just that.
I want to be a nurse because I know how I, myself a perpetual patient, want to be cared for. I want to feel not only safe, but loved. I don’t want to strive to keep my guard up when my disease and suffering is burdensome enough. All I want is someone who can offer me competent care, valid reassurances and an outstretched hand. Every patient should have the right to such a nurse, but unfortunately, it seems as if sometimes that is too much to ask.
Ultimately, driven by my past and present experiences, I am determined to give back to humanity, just as many special nurses have done for me. On the other hand, I hope that no patients encounter some of the fewer nurses I have encountered who obviously lacked many traits I believe are imperative to nursing.
So here I go, on the eve of my first day on the other side of the patient chart. Driven by my heart, ready to engage my mind, I feel that I’m finally about to begin what I’ve most definitely been called to do. This has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait.
During my first clinical rotation on an elderly unit at a local hospital, I hope to gain many things. I want to be knowledgeable, reassuring, kind, and caring. I want it to be obvious that I am in this with my whole heart, and I want my patient to feel secure knowing how dedicated I am to not only taking great care of them, but to making them feel special. Three specific goals I hope to accomplish are:
1. Enhance my therapeutic communication
2. Become better at “thinking on my feet”
3. Make each patient smile and feel wanted, loved, and fabulous
I’m excited for my first rotation, and I’m ready to begin a lifetime of making a difference as a nurse.
