The definition of a nursing student...

So today was it. The last day of our first semester of clinicals. And I am totally and completely exhausted. It's been a really, really long last two weeks. A lot of nights spent working into the morning and mornings that happened well before the sun came up, and I am tired. But we have all survived. I am a little disappointed that I don't feel more successful by today's great milestone... But I am left feeling like I don't know exactly where I stand, in my instructors eyes anyway. And that's what matters. Evaluations will be next week, and that will be interesting. I don't know how it will go. I actually got the closest thing to a complement that she will ever give last Friday, and even that was riddled with the long lists of things that we did wrong or still need to work on. And I know, right now we totally suck and really don't have anything positive to comment on but the criticism and lack of any positive words has finally worn thin my people-pleasing personality. And though I roll with the punches and can actually take criticism much better than most, 15 weeks of it has worn me out. I am ready for it to be over. Ready for the summer and much needed break. Just ready to enjoy my family, have some fun, and relax and recoup before we start round two in the fall. It is nice to know, however, that my feelings are not at all isolated. They are mutually shared by almost all nursing students, actually. The experience, though new to us, is not really new at all. It’s just part of being a nursing student.
Mikki Smith, SN ECC1 (almost ECC2…)

The trials that didn't kill us...yet.

I haven't been on much. Obviously. A lack of time or shortage of patience has kept me from it I think. But finally I stand nearing the end of another school year and I am overjoyed. I can count the number of clinicals left this semester on 3 fingers. Yes, 3. And though that is bitter-sweet in its self, next semester I going to be where my heart is- pediatrics. This semester, however, I have had the opportunity to get to know 9 totally amazing nursing students who I now call friends. I have also been blessed by so many incredible patients who have done far more for me than I could ever do for them and I have found myself so in love with the patient care aspect of clinicals that I am blown away. Not only are they patients, they are also vets. Old and young, male and female, and it has been an honor to give back and a joy to hear their stories. But the beginning of the year got of to a rough start. We were hit with trials from all sides that we could have never seen coming. And we survived... To this point anyway. And as bad as it was or seemed, we were always able to see how things could have been so much worse and how we had really been spared. Several surgeries, 8 weeks with no work, a lost job, full time nursing school, and a new job later, we are still standing. Most of the questions we had about resources to keep us floating the ability to do what needed to be done have been answered. And who would have thought the entire process would place the job that Justin has been after for several years directly in his lap?... I was (once again) reminded of a few things that I believe 100%: Easy doesn’t = good. Things can change real quick. Stability is a mirage. Job security doesn't exist. People change. Often blessings are disguised in disappointment. Death, and life, often happen when you least expect it. Life is but a vapor; the impact of that life can span generations. Some of the best gifts you could ever possibly get are ones you thought you didn't want. Unanswered prayers actually aren't unanswered. Sometimes where you need to be resembles somewhere you don't want to go... until you get there. God is the only Constant. Anyway- I felt like I needed to post an update before my next post which will probably be later today if all goes as planned... :)