Checking one off the list
As of last week, I finished the final shifts of my senior
preceptorship, tallying 255 hours for the semester. It was quite an experience,
learning the nightly duties of an ICU nurse, and feeling the responsibility of
a real working schedule. As with every clinical section we have had in nursing
school, just as we start to get a solid grasp on the position, it ends all too
quickly. My next series of clinical hours will arise working on the job as an
RN, a weird concept to think about.
Although a significant amount of time will free itself in my
daily routine, I still have the unfortunate worry of finishing up final
projects and applying for jobs. I wish those things would take care of
themselves!
In reflecting more on my ICU preceptorship, I can clearly
see my growth during the past three month session. My critical thinking skills have increased,
and now when I discover a curious assessment finding, I gather as much data as
I can on the possible causes before reporting my suspicions. I have also
improved at giving recommendations in these same instances.
It is amazing that almost two years ago I started nursing
school and in almost the same time frame I started writing for this blog. Time
has gone by so fast. My next post will be just a few days before I graduate, achieving
the goal I started towards many years ago. In this tough job market I hope the
best for all of my classmates. I know that this newly educated breed of nurses,
focusing on holistic care and cultural competency, will have a special place in
the workforce sooner or later. I am continually impressed with the compassion
and professionalism that my fellow colleagues hold in the clinical setting, and
I hope that there are more positions available to give us all a chance as new
graduates.