Final Analysis

Nursing school has been a journey in which I learned more about myself than I ever
anticipated. The education I received at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing is
valuable and will prepare me to enter this most rewarding field of work. To be a nurse is
more than an occupation; it is a calling a mission that is not made for all people. The
compassion and empathy a nurse must poses are what makes the career so rewarding. I have
seen new life enter the world and life pass on, and this experience has allowed me to witness
the circle of life.
The first year of nursing school was a transition period for me. I was still working
full-time in my previous field, which was community health education, and trying to adapt to
being a student again. I remember my first day of practicum I was on the oncology unit at
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center. I was paired with one of my peers, and as
we walked down the hall, we were informed by a nurse that a patient just passed away prior
to our arrival, and if we felt comfortable, we could go an observe post-mortem care. I chose
to observe the care, and that first day solidified the value of being present for patients and
their families.
My junior year was the most challenging of them all. Our first test was fluid and
electrolyte with five medication math questions. I studied with two of my classmates many
times prior to the test date, and I felt I was well prepared and understood the content. My
teacher expressed that this test tended to be challenging for most students and that we should
make sure we understand the concept of fluid and electrolyte balances as it would lay the
foundation for future content in nursing. On test day, at that moment, I sat down and began
my timed test, I realized I did focus on the medication math before the test and wasted to
much time on those fill-in-the-blank questions. I ran out of time and completely failed my
first adult nurse science test. I was devastated and so frustrated with myself for not
monitoring my time. I literally cried in the bathroom at school then composed myself to
return to class to learn the next lecture. Our classes were always scheduled with the lecture
following a test, and that day it was challenging to process new material. I reviewed my test
with my teacher a discovered the content was not the issue for the questions I answered I got
most of them correct and only failed due to the number of unanswered questions. I spent the
rest of that semester practicing medication math and bringing up my grade. I studied
diligently, and by the end of the semester, I earned a B letter grade. I have now reached high
academic standards to be inducted into the Honor Society of Bon Secours Memorial College
of Nursing. This experience showed me that with determination and discipline, I can recover
and be a great nurse who is ready to face challenges ahead.
Building patient rapport and caring for clients in the practicum and immersion
settings has provided me with a unique experience and allowed me to express my
compassion while building my nursing and critical thinking skills. I can recall the first time I
inserted a foley catheter on a real patient. I was in the emergency department with my
clinical instructor and the elderly patient had bladder retention. My instructor and I quickly
learned this foley insertion would be a bit challenging because the older woman was
confused and contracted. My instructor said to me if I was not comfortable attempt to do the
procedure that she would completely understand. However, I decided to attempt, and I
succeeded. Of course, I was proud of myself, nevertheless that wasn’t the rewarding part, the
heartwarming part seeing the stress level of her husband declined and listening him share
their story about dancing all over the world when they where younger. I observed how much
he loved and cherished his wife and that he was pleased she was receiving quality care from
us. The day was a perfect example of nursing skills complimenting interpersonal
relationships both are needed to be a great nurse.
Nursing school has enhanced my compassion and taught me that sympathy is not
enough, and empathy has more value. My nursing student journey is coming to an end and I
have grown so much personally and professionally. I can only imagine what awaits this
nursing career ahead.