How?
How has time simultaneously flown and stopped over the course of the last year and a half? How is it possible that I am entering into my last semester, 108 days away from my pinning ceremony?
It doesn't seem possible, and yet, as I am one day away from beginning the last semester, I recognize my personal growth, that my thought process has been adjusted, and when I see a patient situation, while it is still a work in progress, I'm beginning to think like a nurse.
I had a patient tell me that he's been using an inhaled medication for his COPD, and recently has begun to notice a burning sensation on his tongue and down his throat. I immediately flashed back to pharmacology, and recalled that said medications can cause thrush, a fungal infection. Passing this information on to his nurse, the doctor evaluated and prescribed nystatin to treat. A victory.
Or, a patient is in respiratory distress. I suggested to the relatively new RN to re-position, leaning forward, in an effort to expand her poorly functioning lungs. He took my recommendation (!!!) and it provided some relief.
The point is, I feel like I'm thinking like a nurse, and not having as many "deer in the headlight" moments as I used to. Will I still have said moments? Yes, of course. But my goal is to progress beyond them, and endeavor to make accurate interventions for the safety and well-being of my patients.
I've been researching nurse residency programs. I am so hopeful that I will get into a program post graduation and ease into my new role.
Of course, I'm still a long way off from graduation, and those old "failure" fears are creeping in, but I'm hopeful. I'm excited, and nervous, optimistic, and ready to take on the insanity, again, for the sake of becoming, accomplishing, and entering into the world of a registered nurse.
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