I survived. I survived the first 7 weeks of nursing school. The first 7 were brutal, exciting, full of learning, testing, tears, and laughter. The brutal part comes with clinical and lab days up the wazoo, plus class, plus weekly tests all while working full time which all equals craziness. Luckily this semester clinical/lab days are only half the semester...only 7 weeks. The amount of stress that was lifted off my shoulders (and brain) this week was tremendous. It's amazing. At times it seemed impossible to get through. It was alot of work, but I did it and it feels so good! I must say at times I was stressed, stressed to the max, but I got through it one day at a time (note to self for next semester). I'm pretty sure when Josh saw me (which seemed like very little) I was probably not the most pleasant person to be around, but he was always there to reassure me that everything is going to work out, that I can do this, that we are doing it. That's why I love him, he keeps me grounded, or atleast tries! :)
It's been an amazing experience despite the stress and overworked mental status. I've learned so much even in this short time. My experience at the nursing home was eye opening one. I tried to prepare myself and tell myself it would be a different experience than what I had with my CNA clinical (it was rough to say the least). Before I went I read a blog about another nursing student's experience and one thing she had wrote stood out to me, it was like it was in big print, bold lettering, with flashing lights around it. She said, "this is where people come to continue to live." Nursing homes have the stigma of being the last place before you die. It's true many pass away while there, but many go there so they can be in a way independent, not a burden on their family. I was able to sit and talk to a few of the residents in their home (a little room with a bed, a chair, a tv and a dresser if their lucky). These people have stories and alot of them. These stories are of courage, of adventure, of power, of life and true determination. These people truly inspire me. One man said, "You know what I've had a pretty good life, a full life, one that I'm proud to say is mine." Amazing right? Shouldn't this be everyone's goal? It's mine. To have a life I can say that about...one that I'm proud to say is mine. I felt it a privilege to take care of these people.
I see this as how the rest of my life will be as a nurse, as a wife, and hopefully as a mom. Times will be rough, times will be stressful, times will be downright overwhelming, but sure enough they will be so worth it. There is so much to learn (besides just the technical stuff) from these moments in life. If only we could embrace it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment