Week 16 as a Level 1 Nursing Student

I am so pro-nursing it is borderline crazy, and I can see how I may seem ridiculously keen, but I think it is important to note that I haven't always been like this. I can't believe that I've found something I'm this passionate about. I've been an underachieving sloth, I've been the person that skips the vast majority of classes, and I've also been the person who whines and moans about everything school related. This time it's different, though, and I don't think I could've asked for a better place than BCIT to experience all the things I have since starting Nursing.

This week was our last week in clinical! We were supposed to have our 11 hour shift, but we ended up leaving earlier, at 2PM, so at least it was still a longer shift than normal. My day was great! My patients were both super friendly, I got all my work done, what a difference it is when you have two independent patients! Granted, they weren't fully independent, but the closest I've come since school started. My patients were both very sweet old ladies and they had great stories. I got thanked for giving the best bedbath one patient's ever had!! I think one of the things I love so much about nursing is that there are instant rewards. The smile patients give you when a cloth is JUST warm enough, the look of gratitude you get when you remember the way the like something, the way they're so thankful. To date, I don't think I've ever experienced so much happiness amongst sadness than at school.

One thing we were taught this week in Professional Practice was the need for the Public to be aware of the job nurses do. Whenever ppl tell me, "Oh it's so great you're doing nursing." I respond with, "Thanks, I love it." But that's a perfect time to do some shameless promotion - to let the world have a glimpse of the amount of work we put in:
- 12 hours shifts to start. 2 days from 7am-7pm, then 2 nights from 7pm-7am. Shift work is incredibly difficult on our bodies!
- The physical exertion of this profession (lifting patients, being on our feet the majority of shift, running back and forth, ensuring our patients are comfortable, continual monitoring of our patients to make sure they're stable, the list doesn't end here)
- The emotional price (these blurbs only provide you with the tip of the iceberg. For practicality sake, I have spared you the drama of it all)
- The sheer responsibility of the role

I've developed a real respect for nurses, care aides, and healthcare professionals in all their efforts. I'm lucky enough to have had many incredibly inspirational instructors to look up to. It doesn't stop here, though. Good leaders inspire their followers to become great leaders themselves and I relish in the fact that for the next few years, I am under the safe umbrella of school - a safe haven for me to endure the ebbs and flows of experiences to become something great.

Until level 2, faithful reader!
PS - If you want to know, it begins mid-August, so you can just mark that on your calendars