First Step to Unstoppable

Hello future nurses, so glad to see you are back! Today is a story time that I truly hope you enjoy! I just wanted to briefly share how orientation went and a few things that really opened my eyes.

Today was orientation for the nursing program and I was freaking out. I think being nervous is only normal though so, I just took a deep breath and kept going. To start the day, I had to walk 487557892 miles (okay, maybe it was only ½) because not only was it Wilson Campus orientation, but also move in day and the BSN program orientation, so there was no parking. Then when I finally made it, I almost fell out of the chair because it was on wheels and they were not locked and yeah… you get it! I am normally a front row person but I decided to choose the closest seat to the door. When my director walked in the first thing she says is, “You know, there are studies proving that the farther the student sits towards the back, the lower that student's grade will be.” She was joking but I totally panicked. I did NOT work this hard to make her think I am a 5th row, mediocre grade-receiving slacker.

After my director started speaking and the nerves went away, I realized how motivated I felt to be an incredible student and future nurse. I was truly expecting a competitive environment with a lot of tension, but that was not the case at all. Our SIM Labs have motivational quotes on the walls! Just take a minute to in vision this… You are practicing intubating and you just can’t seem to get it right. You look up and BAM. The most inspiring little reminder that YOU CAN DO IT!

The professors told us our failures turn into our greatest successes. MEANING, we are allowed to choose option B when it was really A, because you will always follow up for an explanation and IT WILL clock this time. We are allowed to ask multiple questions and we are allowed to not be great at a skill on the first try. In the classroom or lab is the best time to reach out for help. In the real world, when our skill is what saves a life, we cannot make errors. The instructors at Wilson today were the most empowering and inspiring people I have met. They encouraged everyone to go into this program with an open attitude and lift each other up.

I wish all of you could have experienced the orientation today. I honestly have a new drive inside of me with a “HELL YEAH I GOT THIS” attitude. As my director said, “you’re going to have bad days and you’re going to need talked off the ledge a few times, but that is absolutely normal and you just have to keep going with an open attitude.”

YOU are in nursing school because someone at some point saw something and knew you would be an incredible NURSE. Be the total package! Be the nurse that knows pathophysiology because you studied your butt off for this, but also be compassionate and communicative. One of the biggest things I learned today was, care more about just the body, but also about the elderly spouse of your patient who may not be able to go grocery shopping on her own. Ask the family if they have religious practices for healing. Take into consideration more than just the chart when meeting a patient.

WE CAN DO THIS. WE CAN BE UNSTOPPABLE NURSES.