Semester Four, Week Eight

Oh what a joyous moment it was, discovering I had successfully passed my last course of medical-surgical nursing.

Of course, leading it up to it was like a roller-coaster ride, as the day before, I decided to join in on a group study session that filled me with doubt, worry, and concern. A student stated that she's taken this final before, and it was the worst one ever. Apart from that, it was going to be near impossible to pass, unknown and untaught information would be thrown our way, and you better brush up on ABG's, EKG's, and every other subject ever taught in the history of the nursing program.

After that downer moment, I struggled in vain to study, and was not entirely successful in my efforts. The day of the final, I broke down and paid for a massage, which is a big deal for a poor person like me, but dang, my back, and neck ACHE. My masseuse informed me that my muscles should not be this tense for someone my age. Nursing school for the win. The massage did not help much, sadly.

That being said, the final was not that bad, and I left feeling confident. I even went out and celebrated with some of my cohort and had an alcoholic beverage, (or two).

Leadership began the next day, and with no more exams to study for, I find myself spacing out in class, or perusing the world wide web. I did so mid-day Wednesday, and discovered that I have landed a most wonderful preceptorship position at the very hospital I just completed my clinicals at. It is with great delight that I announce that I won't have to be at a long-term care facility for the remaining 108 clinical hours.

There are fears and concerns associated with a preceptorship, or capstone, or whatever one would like to call it, but this is where I begin to be released from the nursing school nest, and discover what autonomy looks like, and where I belong in the profession. It's really happening. I am incredibly close to achieving a dream that has been six years in the making.