To everyone who is doing an externship, internship, or some similar type program this summer, how is it going? For me, it has really gotten me a lot more excited about nursing; by the end of this past semester, I was really burned out!! I am so glad I am in this program because it makes me realize there is so much more to nursing than school has taught me so far, and really helped me better understand what a nurse does every day. I am learning a lot and discovering that there is a lot I have left to learn, too. Almost every day I work there are moments I feel like the biggest idiot in the world and like I haven't learned a thing in school, but then there are some moments when I actually feel competent, too! And I am getting to enjoy neurology nursing, a specialty I would never have thought of working in, that I was assigned to for the summer. Luckily I have been assigned a great preceptor to help me through; she is very supportive and encouraging but challenges me a lot too, which is good. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with nursing responsibilities, but still find it hard to believe that in less than a year I will graduate and those responsibilities will be solely my own! It's a very scary thought. Anyway- I have rattled on for a while- how are the rest of your summers going?
