As a senior about to graduate from my BSN program, I began reflecting on what I learned throughout my four years of nursing school. In my classes, I learned pathophysiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and countless nursing skills but it was my experience in clinical that taught me what it really means to be a nurse.
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What I learned in nursing school is how to set up an IV fluid set, what to do when a patient is exhibiting signs of septic shock, the most intricate details of hundreds of medications, how to give different types of intramuscular injections, and how to titrate oxygen. I learned the best nursing practice measures to prevent infection, how to change a central line dressing, how research drives evidence-based practice, how to complete a head-to-toe physical assessment, how to calculate weight based dosages for pediatric patients, etc. The list goes on and on...
But what I really learned in nursing school is how to balance 20 hours of clinical a week with my other classes and a part-time job. I learned how to prepare myself for walking through the hospital doors where I will take care of patients and their families on what may be the worst day of their lives. I learned that listening with open ears can speak more volumes than words and sometimes that is really what my patients need. I learned that my patients want to have a voice, be heard, and be understood. I learned the importance of validation and encouragement. I learned that nursing is extremely difficult but rewarding. I learned how to speak up and advocate for my patients because if I don't, then who will?
What I really learned in nursing school is that sometimes what seems like "no big deal" to me can make all the difference. During my medical-surgical rotation, I was taking care of an oncology patient who was receiving chemotherapy and a complicated concoction of medications. After I had completed his physical assessment that morning, I asked if I could get him anything. He told me his bed was making him feel itchy and uncomfortable. Although I figured the itchiness was related to his dry skin from the chemotherapy, I had a few minutes to spare so I ran down to the basement of the hospital to grab special, hypoallergenic sheets for him. While my patient was walking around the unit, I went into his room and did my best to make his bed with the new sheets as perfectly as I possibly could. When he returned to his room and saw his bed all made up for him he got teary-eyed and hugged me. The next day, he told me that he was actually able to sleep for the first time in weeks. Even though this happened two years ago, I remember it because it was the day I learned the true meaning of the saying, "it's the little things."
What I really learned in nursing school is that to some, I may be "just a nurse" but to the little toddler who squeezes my hand during scary procedures, I'm a superhero and to the beautiful, elegant lady who spent hours sharing her life stories and wisdom with me while on hospice, I'm an angel. I learned that nursing is extremely challenging but rewarding. I learned that I do not need the significance of my choice of profession to be validated by my peers or by my parents. I learned how to calmly and respectfully answer the question, "You're really smart. Why aren't you becoming a doctor?" I learned that what I'm doing is important and that I have the privilege to make a difference in people's lives every single day. I learned that nursing is science, nursing is art, and nursing is love. What I really learned in nursing school is that I have so much more to learn and although this career I have chosen will never be easy, it will be so, so worth it.
