ADVENTURES IN NURSING

FIRST YEAR ENDING

Well, we were finally wrapping up our first year.  We had taken all the skill proficiency tests that were required for our summer hospital clinicals.  Each and every one of us was looking forward so much to the freedom from classes that awaited us.  That didn’t mean we were off the hook, though – far from it.

We were scheduled for a month-long hospital rotation during the summer - first shift, five days a week for four weeks, just like real life.  Luckily, B and I requested and received different rotations so that one or the other of us would be home with the brats ... er, the children, and we wouldn’t have to deal with day care.  Yahoo!  That simplified life quite a bit.

 So, we threw a little “end of the year” party and invited all our classmates and instructors.  Several classmates actually attended and, while the rainy, 50-degree weather threatened to ruin our event, we all had a slightly drunken good time anyway.  It was great to let off some steam, and talk about what was coming next.

B’s rotation came first and as was her routine, she had a little upchuck meeting with the commode each and every day.  Poor baby!  She really didn’t appreciate the stress and responsibility.  While I sympathized with her, I also was thrilled that she was able to prepare me in some small way for my turn.  It was nice to know what was expected of me, so that I could potentially plan ahead.  Naturally, me being me, I didn’t plan ahead at all, but it was nice to know, anyway. 

I had myself a big old honking meltdown right before my month-long clinical.  My boyfriend and I talked about planning a wedding, but there was no money for such frivolity.  Bitterly disappointed, I began playing with the idea of quitting school and finding myself a good-paying full-time job.  I was so tired of always being cash-strapped, and wanted to have a real life, with dinners out, and shopping, and vacations, and decent cars, et cetera.  I wanted more!

Unfortunately, our area wasn’t known for good-paying employment with the skills I had, which were basically office administration and cleaning houses.  I picked up more hours at the restaurant I cleaned, making pizzas, salads and desserts on Friday and Saturday night, but that wasn’t getting me much closer to my fantasy life.  And none of the many places I had applied to was beating down my door to hire me. 

I went into one of my blue funks and that’s where I was on my first day of clinical.  I was determined to make something happen but in the meantime, I continued with nursing school.  The universe was listening.

My very first day, my very first patient – a very sweet, rosy-faced elderly gentleman who was recovering from a heart attack – kinda rocked my world.  When I approached him with his AM meds, he asked if he could tell me something.  He was concerned that I would think he was crazy, but he had to tell someone.  It seems he had “seen” himself die in the emergency room, complete with the bright light and angels you always hear about.  As tears rolled down his face, he grabbed my hand and chills went down my spine.

I was stunned.  I was shaken.  It was another of those “brick-upside-the-head” moments for which the Universe is famous.  This was my sign.  I assured this man that I didn’t think he was crazy at all, and thanked him profusely for helping me come to a decision I had been struggling with.  All I could think of was, “What if I had quit nursing school, and hadn’t been in that particular hospital room, on that particular day, and hadn’t heard that particular man’s story?” 

In turn, he thanked me profusely for listening and not judging.  I realized in that moment that this is why I was here.  I had received so many blessings since I made the decision to become a nurse.  So many people in my life had stepped up to help me make sure I got through the process and achieved my goals.  This was something I needed to see through to the end.

When my instructor and I left the room, I explained to her what had been going on in my life, and the fact that I was thinking of quitting school.  I even shed a few tears, as I recall.  It was such a profound moment for me, I had to share.  Amazingly, even though I had only known this lady for a couple of hours, she gave me a little hug and reminded me why I had started this journey in the first place.

Some might think it was just the luck of the draw that I was assigned to that man that day.  I knew better.  I will be forever grateful that our paths crossed.  Those few minutes we spent together changed my path completely.  What a blessing.