It has been
a busy, but very relaxing summer around here. I finished my two least favorite
classes and solidified my first preceptorship placement back at LGH. I am happy
to be starting the final leg of this journey so close to home, and look forward
to the opportunity to get to know a new ward, and a new patient population. I
am so excited for the autonomy this next level promises, but know I will miss
working with my classmates. There was some comfort knowing that there
were other people….friends… very close by, going through very similar
experiences on the floor, and it was nice knowing we had each others backs if the brown
stuff hit the fan. Now I will be working with my preceptor (also a BCIT grad!) and
alongside all of the other RN’s, LPN’s, DR’s, RT’s, PT’s, OT’s and CA’s on the
unit. This is going to be a big change, but we knew we would have to cut the
cord eventually. And while the first half of L6 promises a steep learning
curve, and will require me to adjust back into critical thinking mode after a
few months of zoning out, and is sure to provide me with ample opportunity to
learn…… I am really looking forward
to the second half of L6……. If all the stars align just right (please, please,
please), I will be spending the last 8 weeks of my BSN education caring for the
hospital’s tiniest patients for my final placement .....in neonatal nursing..…. That
is where I truly belong and I can’t wait to get there. I must remind myself to
live in the now, because I know there is lots to do before I am ready for P2. Adjusting
to 12 hour shifts and night shifts for starters…...
Although my
term officially started on the 18th, my first shift is scheduled for
Sunday. It’s a day shift and a buddy shift, meaning I get to follow my preceptor
around and soak up as much info as possible. I am happy to have this extra time now to review the unit binder my preceptor provided, and look over all the skills I
learned way back in L4….. plus I have actually had time to go to the gym!!!! At
the same time, I do just want to get in there and get going! Crazy to think
that there are only 4 months left!!!
 |
| I can see the light!! |
I was blessed to have a wonderful 2.5 weeks with my family
back in Edmonton, which I was totally needing. Paige has had a
very very exciting summer. We’ve
enjoyed trips to the pool, the beach, driving range, road trips around BC,
archery and gondola rides with Gramma in Panorama, WEM waterpark slides, AND a
brand new baby sister!! With the big teacher strike going on here, it is hard to tell if she will start grade 4 on time, but she certainly isn't too worried about that :). She will also be starting soccer this Sept and I might be more excited about that than she is…. but here’s hoping she loves it as much
as I did.
I have been
thinking a lot lately about where I want to go with my nursing career.... there
is so much I plan to accomplish both locally, and internationally. With the exciting
approval of my global health initiative at BCIT this June, I have become even
more curious about all things related to international nursing, and nursing
education. It is so rewarding to see hard work pay off, and I am thrilled that
current, and future students will have more opportunity in terms of global
health theory and international practice. It is a work in progress, but we have
been given the green light to at least get started and I am so thankful for
that! Quite perfectly there is a huge conference on global nursing next June…
in Soeul… yes, of course I am going J Seems too perfect of
an opportunity to pass up. For now though, I better focus on excelling in preceptorship 1 and
2 and conquering the NCLEX…..
Alana - Student nurse
