In the mood to hear stories. Figured I'd try to get the ball rolling with this...
Tell a story about a significant 1st in nursing school.
For example, it could be your first clinical day, patient, blood draw, exam, even 1st big laugh. I'll tell one...
My very first nursing class ever. It was microbiology & I was excited. I had bought the book & read ahead. Ahh, I was so conscientious (geeky) back then (9 months ago) at the tender age of 32.
Instead of attending my first class I sat by my father-in-law's bedside. He had pneumonia (complication of emphysema) and it didn't look good. He died that very night & I was soooo glad I cut class to be with my husband.
Two weeks later, I was psyched for my very first nursing class. Sure I felt a bad for missing 4 classes, but I learned A LOT about nursing, especially end of life issues. I thought the professor would say something wise, something supportive, or even ask me what I learned about microbiology from my father-in-law's opportunistic infection.
She had nothing to say about my absence. Instead, she suggested drop the class. As you guys know, I don't have the luxury of that when I had to take 7 pre-reqs within 1 year (inc. Anat 1 & 2). I told the prof. I could muddle thru.
All semester, I kept thinking that this woman is my first role model of nursing, the 1st nurse to guide me. She missed a huge teaching opportunity with me. She could have asked me about my two wks of bedside vigils, funeral arrangements, sitting shiva, packing an apartment, and watching sons make sense of their distant father...No, she had her canned lectures and slides.
But that is okay. She may have missed a teaching experience, I had a huge learning experience.
Anybody want to share a story?
--Caroline (only A & P II & ethics pre-reqs left)
(ps. kicked butt on the 1st exam. a in class. sorry to brag)