Personal Narrative: My Clinical Experience As A Nursing Student

In order to reach one’s goal, the goal should be well defined, firm and the individual must be completely committed to attaining it. Pursuing a career as a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner has always been my driving goal throughout all my education and training since the age of seventeen. Over the past three years working within a Surgical Inpatient unit as a Registered Nurse, I have become aware of the lack of community resources and access to health care available in rural areas. This has inspired me apply to the University of Western Ontario’s Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner program for the fall of 2014. After completing my Bachelor of Science of Nursing at the University of Western Ontario, I am certain that no other

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, once said, “I attribute my success to this:—I never gave or took an excuse.” That is an outlook on life I try to live up to. I have had a few set backs in my college career to keep me from achieving my goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. I could have easily given up on my dream but I took those hardships and turned them into fuel to keep going. My father suffered a massive heart attack and went into cardiac arrest when I first started college. It completely flipped by life upside down. I spent weeks at a time in the hospital with him. Seeing him go in and out the hospital for years reaffirmed my need to become a nurse and help others like how those nurses took care of my father. Once I

Week three in clinical was difficult for me, I had a great experience overall but I hated seeing and holding a baby that had passed away at 21 weeks. To know what the family could possibly be going through was heartbreaking. I wouldn’t exactly know what to do if I was with the patient and her family exactly. I do know that I did place her in the room when she was admitted to triage. I do feel good about seeing the scenario play out, while being a student rather than being in the field alone. Other than that I was able to see the beginning stage of labor as well as a C-section. Everyone was so bent out of shape on making sure I eat and that I don’t faint, but it seriously wasn’t bad. As a matter of fact I was too intrigued with the mother rather

I stare fascinated as the doctor deftly slices through the patient’s flesh. Hands operate swiftly on the supine body; not a trace of doubt could be found in the movements.

I was recently fortunate enough to speak with Carri Montgomery, who lists her title as the Director of the Women’s and Newborn Center for Platte Valley SCL Health. Platte valley use to be community owed and they recently joined Sister’s of Charity which includes; Good Samaritan, Lutheran, and Saint Joseph Hospital. The purpose of this interview was to interview someone where I could see myself working in what they are doing later in my career. With this interview I hoped to learn what it took for Ms. Montgomery to be in the position she is today. Also, get advice from her to see what where the things she recommended I could do when I graduate from Metropolitan State University (MSU) in 2019. It was beneficial to interview her

I interviewed Beverly Stark. She works for Health Partners Hospice and Palliative Care as a hospice registered nurse (RN). The setting of her work varies. It is wherever her patient lives, which can range from a hospital, long term care, or in the patient’s home. She emphasized the importance of her team. She works with nurses, social workers, home health aids, chaplains, doctors, and hospice volunteers on a daily basis. She is part of what they call a core group. Each core group is made up of two RNs, one social worker, and a home health aid (HHA). The core group meets once a week to talk and update each other on their caseload. Additionally, they meet with the chaplain and a doctor weekly (B. Stark, personal communication, Sept 9, 2016).

My first week went really well! I was definately both nervous and excited on the first day. I was nervous because I wasn't sure how the clinic would run and I quickly learned that it is a very fast paced clinic. My CI sees patients every 15 minutes and he is both the only PT there and the owner of the clinic. I have been learning a lot about PT treatments as well as the buisness side of the PT clinic. He has a lot of PT aides that help with exercises and setting patients up with ice and stim ect. The fast paced clinic was definately something I had to get used to. I was a little overwhelmed when we would just start with a patient and a new patient would walk in the door. However, there is a very good flow in the clinic and everyone is always

The best feeling in the world to me is not going to sleep in my cozy bed after a long and exhausting day at school or work, it is not wiping off a full face of makeup or even cuddling up in a warm blanket after the cold, chilly winter nights. Sure those things are great but the feeling I get when I show any act of kindness is what I define as the best feeling in the world. Having the chance to impact the world, myself, and even my family, is what I have strived for my whole life. The chance to save lives, be there and care for people through illnesses, injury, pain or loss. Pursing a career in nursing is my ultimate goal. It is a profession that allows me to see people at their worst, all the while, helping them become their best.

Katlynn was out of the hospital after about a week and a half. All of us girls cleaned the house spotless upon her arrival. That may not sound like much, but we were young girls that lived on a farm, so being messy was pretty much our thing. Katlynn came home and we all showered her with hugs. The first week she was home we watched her like a hawk, trying not to make it noticeable. Since Kate got out of the hospital she has to take pills every morning and night, and she had to make a trip to Mason city twice a year. Today she only goes once a year because she hasn’t suffered a seizure since. There have been a few scares here and there, though. It’s been seven and a half years since that terrible day, and Kate’s doing great. She is at the age

Initially I was very apprehensive in sharing the truth behind what ultimately made me decide to return to school to become a nurse. This would entail reliving both joyful and painful memories of my life which I believe to have mapped out the path that I was meant to follow. I was a young, stay at home mom for many years. being the full time primary care giver to my three children was the most rewarding experience of my life. reflecting back I have found remarkable similarities in the traits and skills of mothers and nurses. many of these characteristics are utilized by nurses with each and every patient they encounter . These include but are not limited to compassion , empathy, prioritization, dedication, understanding nonverbal communication.

Imaging of musculoskeletal disorders began in the early 1900’s with the invention and utilization of radiography and fluoroscopic equipment (McKinnis, 2014). Evolutions in imaging now allow for clearer digital recorded images of fluoroscopy, radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (McKinnis, 2014). From the beginning, imaging has not been an isolated or sole diagnostic tool. The clinician’s expertise in the evaluation process, the comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the patient, documented and reported patient history, associated signs and symptoms, and the additional medical test results along with red flags must be taken into account when considering referral for imaging (Dutton, 2012; McKinnis, 2014). There are several clinical prediction rules and guidelines, which have been created to assist health care providers in managing the utilization and prevention of inappropriate imaging (Dutton, 2012; Gan, Harkey, Hemingway, Hughes, & Duszak, 2016; Gidwani et al., 2016; McKinnis, 2014). Based on the aforementioned information, not all spinal patients will require or should receive spinal imaging.

In the year of 2014, it was a hard time for my family and me. Throughout the whole year of 2014, my grandpa was in and out of the hospital weeks turning into months at a time. He was the healthiest man, but that year really took a toll on him, which resulted in him extended hospital stays. Throughout the whole year, the nurses became so close with the family seeing how they would conversate with our family so much. The nurses provided so much security and assurance within their scope of practice within my grandpa’s hospital stays. It was the nurses in the room late nights and early mornings keeping my grandma and family company, displaying their empathy and treating us like their very own family. We all shared laughs, prayers, hugs, and cries all while concluding their job duties. The words spoken by Maya Angelou, “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but will never forget how you made them feel.” From every doctor, nurse to janitorial staff that had an encounter with my grandpa and my

A patient experience that stands out as significant was the day my evening patient cancelled his or her appointment. On this day, I found a patient at the CSU. When I first approached this individual, he refused to go to the clinic. I explained to him that there is no cost for an assessment and that it is up to him to accept treatment or not. When he came in to the clinic, he looked nervous. I explained everything before starting the assessment to help him feel comfortable. After the assessment I told him about the findings. I explained to him what gingivitis is and what he can do as an individual to help bring his gums back to health. I talked to him about the consequences and the risks associated if he refused to decline treatment. He was

Nursing students face many challenges due to their narrow scope of practice, and lack of experience and knowledge. This changes with the development and learning of values and beliefs, which shape the decision making in the nursing process. During my clinical nursing practice experience as a new nursing student, I have had amazing learning opportunities as well as situations that made me feel uncomfortable, powerless, and dependent on the assigned nurse. In this paper I will talk about one of my clinical experiences where I felt powerless, analyze it, and show how the sociopolitical inquiry and power dynamics come into play in my story.

Why I want to be a nurse? I guess for many this question poses no threat yet, it scares the life out of me. I know this community has read countless short essay on why people want to join your school and become a nurse. Moreover, for many nursing students as well as nurses feel, they can make a different in someone life, that is a calling that only a few may possess. However, the dreams in becoming a nurse start at a young age for me. I always found myself having pity for people. When my sibling or other family member was ill or hurt, I ran to their aid something getting in the way and then told to go to my room. Nevertheless, I would always come back to try to make them feel better. Having natural affection for people are rooted