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GOOD MORNING! Sorry I wasn’t able to write anything yesterday, but I had my second clinical day. Yes, I made it through again! I think I enjoyed it even more this time because I was by myself. I dreaded the thought of being alone, but once you have to, you have a deeper level of confidence that you can do this.
The first time, I was able to walk into a room with Ashley, who is a CNA and one that is excellent with the patients. I thought we did well, but I left that day thinking was it because she was with me, or could I have done it alone. Well now I know. It was because she was with me. Just kidding, I can do it too!
Not wanting to embarrass you Ashley, I promise I didn’t intend on writing this, but I want to encourage you to stay focused. You have the whole world lying in front of you and the possibilities are endless. I already know that you’re smart enough, but I know that it would be easy to get side-tracked, so keep those eyes locked in on the end result. This is true for all of the younger students. You have the opportunity to do things early with your life that some of us are just now getting the chance to do so. Take advantage of it, and make us proud!
There is one thing that I have learned thus far, and it applies to all of us, young or old. A person may be smart enough to pass, but if you lose focus, you’re dead in the water. Nursing is not something that you can slip in on the side after having done everything else. You do it first, and then slip a few essentials in with it, such as family, work and food, and if you’re lucky some sleep.
I’m not saying that you should love it more than your family, in that sense, family always comes first. However, I am saying that we have chosen to go down the path of nursing, and in order to do so, we have to readjust our family lives for a short period of time. Once we have completed this journey I’m sure that we will yet again readjust; because each of us will be a different person than we were before. Each of the instructors has told us that ALL of us will be different people. Some of you will have more time and money than ever before, most of all there will be a different level of commitment, knowledge, and confidence about each of us that leads us all to think and act differently. None of us will the same person leaving the program as we were going into it, and I personally can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
I want to encourage all of you to do something and I hope that you’ll take advantage of what I’m going to say and view it as a kind gesture as it is intended to be.
Every day we have a different instructor to stand before us, each one unique having their own style. It’s safe to say they bring their own strengths and their own weaknesses because we all have them. Yet there is one thing for certain, they all bring something before us that is valued and something that we need.
Before we ever thought about the nursing program at NACC, they were readjusting their family lives and digging in to carve out a life for themselves. They did this because they had the same desire to help people, and the same desire to better themselves as we have. Now think about this. The journey didn’t stop at RN. First, years of nursing service continued, as well as the education- BSN and on to MSN, for some, Nurse Practitioner, and a Doctorate.
I want you to think of the hours, months, and years of education that you have standing before you EVERY DAY. We as students are always talking about all the reading that we have to do. Now, think about all the read books, papers and attended lectures, and years in the hospitals, that you have standing before you in every class. Take advantage of it, and soak it all in!
As president of the class, I have to share with you how I feel about this subject. I was taught to respect my elders. Now some of these instructors in physical years are certainly NOT my elder, but in nursing years they are, and they should be treated as such.
When they are lecturing your eyes should be on them, and your mind should be on what they have to say. Some days it just seems we don’t have control over our minds, that at the best we can do, our mind just wanders. However, they should never know it. Keep those eyes focused on them, and every opportunity you get, draw that mind back in and zero in on as much of what their saying as you can. It’s only to your advantage.
And while I’m on the subject, one more thing I want to share. How do I say this, hummmmm? I want you to be able to come to me if you feel like you need to. As I’ve already mentioned, I’m a people person. I love to meet people, and I love to find out the uniqueness about them, because we all have it. However, I’m not into drama. I believe there is a time and place for everything, and a certain order that things should be addressed.
If you have a true problem, I’ll be glad to assist if I can, but I won’t be a part of being disrespectful. We’re all here for one reason and that is to learn to be a good student, so that we can one day become a good nurse.
I’m sure you’ve all read the serenity prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
I guess what I’m asking you is this, please use wisdom about what you ask me to address, and then I’ll try my best to use wisdom in addressing it: then if presented to the nursing faculty, they in turn, will show us respect by using wisdom to answer.
There is a difference between a person with a problem who needs it presented to the nursing instructors, verses a person with a problem who is wanting to blame it on the instructors.
NACC is one of the best nursing programs in the state of Alabama and WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING IN IT! You don’t get the reputation of being the best for no reason. So, let’s take advantage of getting to be a part of it. Let’s all start with ourselves, me included, on becoming a better person. Let’s zero in on the things that we need to improve upon and strive to do so. If we set our minds to it, there is nothing that we can’t do.
I am so excited for each of us, and my prayer is that we started together and that we will all finish together.
Here’s to crossing the finish line together,
Glenda
