To Nursing Students from a Clinical Instructor

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I teach in an undergraduate nursing program while also working as an RN and as a student in a PhD program. Nursing students give me hope for our beautiful profession. I write an email to each group after we finish our time together. I want to share my latest email with nursing students because I don't think as students, each realize what an impact they have as a group and as individuals during their clinical experience. Nursing students are the best and they give hope for the future of this beautiful profession.

"I want to reiterate what a pleasure it was to have all of you in clinical... individually and as a group. I also enjoyed having one-on-one time with each of you during evaluations. Throughout the semester, I saw how you each contributed to a group. Getting to know you as individuals gave me the opportunity to see your uniqueness and specialness and the reasons why you work so well in a group.

I hope you understand why I think each one of you is special. Be who you are as you go out into the nursing profession with your head held high. Never compromise the essence of who you are or your core values. Never follow the crowd that does not have these core values and never apologize for who you are and what this brings to this profession, the patients, their families and the community.

As stated, this is the most wonderful and beautiful profession, but it is not for the faint at heart. It is for those who have the desire to learn about themselves and how our communication skills are the greatest tool in making a difference. It is for those who have the ability to reflect on how we will do things differently when in a similar situation (It is about doing the best we can with the knowledge and experience we have... not about beating ourselves up about what we didn't do). It is about wanting to learn and research and ask questions to foster best care for the lives we enter as nurses. It is about finding our support system and our go-to people who will never leave us in the wind.

My job as a clinical instructor validates my decision to become a nurse each semester I work with nursing students at XYZ. It puts me in a place of hope, enthusiasm, idealism with realism and an understanding that awesome people are going to be my collegues. It makes me feel as though great things are going to come because of the people entering this profession. In my world, looking back instead of looking forward is my way of knowing that this profession is going to make unbelievably wonderful strides because of those entering the profession.

I do have your back and will always support you. If there is anything you need... recommendation letter, advice or an ear to listen... I am here for you. I am an email or phone call away... no matter how long it has been since there has been contact. The good ones need to stick together.

I wish you all the best. You have all affected me in the most positive way."

Nursing students: realize that you not only positively impact patients, families and communities, but those that teach you. Take from each instructor their passion and develop your own philosophy on what nursing means to you.

You make a difference while in the role of student.

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Specializes in None yet..

Awwww, THANK YOU! I'm a newbie nursing student, stressed out, tired and doubting myself. I'm grabbing onto your message like a drowning person grabs a life ring.

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This is a beautiful message. More people need to be leaders like you that inspire students and not "bosses" or "supervisors."

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New nursing student here, I am also holding on to this for dear life. Thanks so much for posting this :)

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beautifully written. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I thought my clinical instructor hated me and in turn I secretly hated her, but after the semester was over, she gave me a glowing review and told me I had the backbone for the job. It was all a test. And it made me stronger. I felt like the biggest donkey. I will never forget her and I know better moving forward.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Thank you for this beautiful letter. This can give hope and encouragement to not only "your students' but to all students.

Your students are very fortunate for have you as an instructor to help mold them into the kind of future nurses this profession is so in need of.

THANK YOU!

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That is awesome :) I have to say, that is unbelievably motivational to your students. My micro instructor gave us a letter with our final (similar to this but was just a letter to all of his students), and it resides in my cookbook along with notes from family and friends. I occasionally pull the note out and read it again, just because :D

:)

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thank you

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THANK YOU! As a nursing student who is half way through my program and this article means SO much. Feeling a bit burned out from working full time and attending nursing school, your kind words give encouragement that will propel me forward to the next term! We NEED more teachers like you! My experience so far has been very positive with both theory and clinical instructors. It makes a difference to have such a positive role model. ;)

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A very big thank you to nurses like you who are willing to take your time to teach students. I have had some great clinical instructors where I have learnt about myself and also learnt the positive side of nursing. To see this here now is a blessing at a time where I question what I am doing and have no motivation. Thank you for the little pep talk :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg and Neuro.

I'm such a cynic, I braced myself for this to be about how entitled, unprofessional, and blah, blah, blah my generation is. I'm glad to see this was a positive message. There's not enough positivity out there. Thank you.

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I will be 51 when I start my RN program. Is there any advice to give a new student?

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