A personal approach to becoming a nurse
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
I had been working in healthcare for most of my adult life, but had never
felt that I had found my true calling. Serendipity led me to realize that I
was to become a nurse.
In 2005 I had open-heart surgery to correct a rare, life threatening,
congenital defect. Although I was terrified by the whole ordeal, I was also
fascinated. I can remember being in the intensive care unit and being
captivated by my surroundings. The nurses were phenomenal. My interest in
the nursing aspect of my care was met with enthusiasm, and my questions were
answered knowledgeably and compassionately. They took time to care for me as
a whole person, not just as an illness. I will always be grateful to the
nurse who didn’t hesitate to wake the physician in the middle of the
night. I was in excruciating pain, and I did not have adequate pain
medication ordered. Without the outstanding care I received from these
nurses, I don’t know how I would have made it through the ordeal. These
special people were my caregivers, my advocates and my angels.
My goal is to become a nurse in a critical care or emergency department. I
feel that having been through a life-threatening event, I have a true
understanding of what it is like to entrust your life to the care of others.
Those nurses who cared for me gave me so much more than they could ever
realize. They inspired me, and gave me the courage to go back to school and
pursue a career in nursing. I learned first hand that it is an honor and a
privilege to have a complete stranger entrust you with their care, and I
wanted so much to be able to do that for another person.
I once read that the wounded make the best healers. I don’t know how
much truth there is to that statement. What I do know, however, is what it
feels like to be a patient. I will always be mindful of this, and I believe
that I will be a better nurse for it. I would be so honored to be awarded a
scholarship to help me achieve my goal of completing my nursing education.
posted in: Kentucky