Day 4/36

What a DAY! It wasn’t as busy as yesterday, but it kept me on the tips of my toes. After gathering all my tools (stethoscope, pens, paper, lunch, name tag), I headed out my front door ..... I saw that my car had been sprinkled with snow. To much of my delight, I skipped on down the drive way (exaggeration!). Luckily my mitts were in the car - so scraping my windshield wasn’t that tedious for my phalanges (fingers) were nice and warm. As I headed off on HWY 91, I had the opportunity to watch the sunrise. Can I just say it’s FLIPPING GORGEOUS! 

I arrived to the unit a half hour early - like usual. Got myself all settled in and listened to morning report. I love the fact I am starting to become more familiarized with the unit, staff and patients. I feel as though I’m actually apart of the team! I had the same patient as the day before, which helped - for I knew when his medications, feeds, glucose checks were. This was the first day I was paired up with my other old friend K, who graduated last year from Trinity. I enjoyed following her around, seeing her ways of staying organized and how she interacted with the patients and families. 

There was a point in the day where I began to get overwhelmed at something so simple. These nurses did their jobs with such ease. They didn’t have to look up every medication, they talked to doctors as if they were friends, they took telephone orders, did EVERYTHING as if they were experts. Being a student is stressful, especially working along side someone who has it all together. I often find myself allowing that “negative” voice inside tell me that I’m not smart or good enough for this job. As the day went on, K realized something was up. She took me aside and had an amazing heart to heart talk with me. K shared with me that for lent, she decided to give up “I can’t” for a specific reason. As we talked about the stresses of being a nurse and how over time, it’ll get better, I was comforted by this. There are still moments when I doubt, but it’s evident that this is where I am meant to be. Nursing hasn’t been easy for me - I’m a few fries short of a happy meal at times, but I know that I wouldn’t be where I’m at if this wasn’t God’s plan for my life.

I need to change the way I think, changing “I can’t” into “I can.”

It’s my challenge, for this preceptorship to remind myself that when I get to those places of wanting to give up, that with God’s strength and perseverance, I can do this! No matter who you are, or what you do..... I challenge you to do the same. Think positive, remind yourself, that: 

“When the world says, ‘Give up,’ Hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time.” - Unknown