Changing Lives for the Better

As the graduation date approaches for students of the RN-to-BSN program at James Madison University, the final step toward the finish line of this journey is the completion of the “tell the world” project. The purpose of this project is to provide an opportunity for nurses to speak up and talk about their profession and personal nursing role.

Unlike the majority of my classmates and coworkers, I had no intentions of going into the nursing profession at first due to a lack of knowledge of what this profession truly is. Instead, I pictured myself as becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist and set my goals at getting into medical school. Also, coming from a different cultural background where the public does not portray nurses as autonomous healthcare professionals but rather as doctors' helpers who perform routine tasks was another reason I did not consider going into the nursing field (Hoeve et al., 2013). During one of the toughest and most emotional steps of my life, when I was hospitalized, I had no one with me at the bedside but caring and compassionate nurses throughout the whole journey. Doctors did a fantastic job, but from my memories, I felt like there was always a lack of connection between the provider and the patient. When the provider comes into the room, he/she spends roughly several minutes with the patient and then disappears in the dark. During the time when I was still very young, on my own in a foreign country with no relatives, friends, and no support, one fantastic nurse was the one who helped me to get through the difficulties of life by showing her compassion, and support, sharing her knowledge and providing needed resources, who was simply there for me to talk to and hold my hand. Having such a supportive person by my side who was selflessly helping me to overcome life obstacles portrayed the nursing profession with new colors and changed my life for the better. I realized that I want to make even a small difference in someone’s life every day and decided to enter the field of nursing.

I graduated from nursing school right when the Covid pandemic started. Due to the challenging times of the pandemic, I could not start my nursing journey in the field I initially wanted (women's health and newborns). Instead, I found myself in the field of pediatric nursing, where I now know my heart belongs and where every nurse plays a role of a leader and a team player every day. Now I work as a peds nurse on the neuroscience unit at one of the major pediatric hospitals in the state of Virginia. I enjoy working with children and being a part of a team that cares for very special children. My team is a growing specialized unit for neurology, neurosurgery, trauma, and neuromuscular research patients. These children require the staff to be skilled and knowledgeable in general pediatric care as well as, but not limited to, Seizure Management, Neuro Assessments, Shunt Care, EVDs, Ketogenic Diets, Cardiac Monitoring, and Trauma Care. Nurses on the neuro unit are trained and certified to administer FDA-regulated research medications in collaboration with Eastern Virginia Medical School. We assist neurology team doctors in conducting clinical trials for children, adolescents, and young adults with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Epilepsy, Migraines, Spinal muscular atrophy, and CLN2 disease (CHKD., n.d). These clinical trials allow learning more about new medications before they are available to the public and the results of the studies provide information about the safety and effectiveness of the medications being tested. Patients who participate in clinical trials help make new drugs possible. I am excited to be a part of the team that helps bring new medications to market through clinical trials and changing children’s lives for the better!

References/Resources

Hoeve, Y., Jansen, G., Roodbol, P. (2013). The nursing profession: Public image, self-concept and professional identity. A discussion paper. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(2), 295–309.

CHKD. (n.d.). Neurology clinical trials. Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Retrieved December 3, 2022.