Comments on: Nursing Student Vents

By: Emma Sloan

Emma Sloan — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:58:08 +0000

In 1988 I applied to an RN program at my local university, excited that the dream of becoming a nurse, was to be reality following a letter of acceptance. One problem – my children’s daycare opened at 0730 and the nursing program expected me to be at my 1st clinical in the hospital at 0730. I contacted the school to speak with someone in charge to see if I could still attend somehow. I was a single mom, recently separated from my husband with few options and little support. I was told that under no circumstances was I to be late by even 10 minutes so I better think of another career. I was crushed. I thought of another career. I applied to become a Dietician. I fulfilled all of the requirements of the four years honours Bachelors degree program, was on the Deans list for a couple of semesters, yet lost heart towards the end of the program and declined an internship. I taught cooking classes and became a Home Economist for a number of years, yet I yearned for what had been lost – my opportunity to become a nurse. Someone told me about the local community college offering night classes to become an RPN and she was attending and managing to raise her family at the same time. I was elated, applied immediately, completed the program and became a nurse. I think often of the advice given to me when I was much younger – to quit before I started. If your heart is really in nursing, don’t let anything stand in your way, including bad advice, poor instructors, and nurses who try to eat their young. As I navigated my way through nursing school I discovered much in myself: resolve, strength, vision, compassion,and passion – a desire so strong to nurse, that nothing, not even myself or anyone else would stand in my way of completing the program. My most difficult experience was the nurse I had for my final consolidation. She did everything she could to prevent me from completing my consolidation, including an attempt to gnaw at my self esteem by insulting my physique. My resolve would not be weakened. I would become a nurse. It was in this instance I learned how much I would go through to become a nurse. I became stronger. I developed skills. Not the skills of nursing, as I was not allowed to do any nursing tasks beyond giving out medications, yet, I learned. I learned how to manage difficult situations and difficult people without losing my cool or crying or quitting. I was stressed beyond stressed. And…I developed a sense of humour. It was halloween. My nurse instructor had an interesting shape. She had long slender legs and a large protruding tummy. She shouted at me to get out of her way, remarking on the ample size of my gluts. I looked her way and saw her in a bumble bee costume, took a double take and saw her in her yellow scrub top and black slacks. Every time she insulted me I saw her as a bumblebee, stifled a giggle, and got out of her way… got on my way to becoming a nurse. Of course I won’t thank her for the insults, but I will thank her for the lesson I learned – about myself, that I can take a lot without crumbling, wilting or dying of embarrassment. That new skill has been a priceless one.. I use it every day as I care for patients with dementia who can be brutally honest. I love what I do every day now as a nurse. There are nursing challenges very different from the challenges of nursing school and I learn something new, add a new skill, every day. I’m glad I didn’t let her sting her young.

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:26:17 +0000

I wondered how things work if you have an emergency. Thanks for sharing!

By: Jayleen

Jayleen — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:39:40 +0000

I have also seen many situations like this. I think that the idea of the “traditional nursing student” is old news. so many of us are joining the ranks at an older age, changing professions, with kids, without kids, with spouses, without spouses. I agree with others that you have many qualities that are valuable in the nursing profession, including helping those with lack of aim while vomiting! You know what they say, “that which doesn’t kill us will only make us stronger”. All the best!!

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:30:29 +0000

Searching out info re: CHALLENGES OF NON-TRADITIONAL NURSING STUDENTS for presentation

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:12:46 +0000

I am a nursing instructor and can remember well when I was in nursing school 17 years ago. I was treated horribly and today I use that experience… I vowed back then that I would never treat students that way, I don’t and I don’t allow others to abuse them in clinical. I must admit one trend that I’m seeing more of and that is the disrespect exhibited by some students. This is disturbing to me because I feel that if they are that way with me, then they will be the same way with patients. In some instances, I’ve seen students get away with too much.

By: joy

joy — Tue, 22 May 2007 14:44:00 +0000

When I was in nursing school, my car caught on fire and BURNED (due to an electrical short) on my way to first day of 2nd semester clinicals. I called in and when I got to the hospital(only 3 hours late) my instructor told me that she had been told to deduct 17 points from my overall grade but she refused, saying that had it been her, she would not have been there at all.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:18:27 +0000

I’m currently a student with 3 kids and a disabled husband. I am 1 1/2 classes away from graduation. My school has almost made it impossible. I understand completely what you’re going through.

By: Nursing instructor

Nursing instructor — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:45:53 +0000

I am a nursing instructor. I try very hard to understand that “life” happens and that the world does not stop for school. I, too, have children and I have to miss clinical when they are sick. My students usually comment on how understanding I am. I hate that instructors forget that students have lives too.

By: polly

polly — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:35:34 +0000

Nursing school is tough on most students. I was in my 30′s with a part time job a husband and a child when I attended. The Dean told me at the time of my first interview upon beng accepted, that I would not make it.
Guess what after the first semester I was invited to join the honor society. I have been a nurse now for 14 years, I guess you could say I made it!!!
Hang in there!!!

By: leslie

leslie — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:43:08 +0000

Geena: reading your blog shows me that you have a LOT of great qualities that will benefit your nursing career – compassion, understanding of other’s stress, determination (with lots of personal “odds” against suceeding in school and home life) – PLEASE stick with nursing. Do not let the negative issues with some instructors (who are also short staffed/underpaid)and a few nurses make you lose your self-esteem. In my 25 years of nursing experience, I have learned that sometimes the harder the “job”, the stronger you become…AND, many times the second career nurses ARE the most commited to nursing. BEST of LUCK to you and family. You might also consider interfacing with other nurses at a new blog site http://www.nurselinkup.com