Summer 2020

As we near the end of summer, I want to take some time to reflect on the past few months. I was able to work and take care of three children. My time management, ability to resolve conflict, and communication skills all improved. When I started, I did not realize how much I would learn and grow through this experience. Additionally, I truly enjoyed taking care of these children and will miss this past summer. During this time, I also obtained my Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications. The ACLS course was taken first in July, and then I took my PALS course in August. Since classes were moved onto virtual platforms during the past semester, it felt amazing to be back in an in-person classroom setting. Learning has always been a passion of mine and I thrive when collaborating with my peers. During the classes scenarios were given, and it allowed the simulation of real-life experience. I was able to utilize my assessment skills, prioritize the patient's needs, implement, and carry out a plan of care. Furthermore, spending time at home with my family this summer was a huge blessing. We frequently go boating and camping. Additional free time allowed for reading and increasing my depth of knowledge about the stock market. Reading and watching videos is my preferred method for learning about stocks. This summer allowed me the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in many different areas that I was unfamiliar with before. The final fifth semester of nursing is closely approaching and it will pass rapidly. I am enrolled in two virtual classes and two in-person clinical courses. After my ICU rotation last semester, classes were transitioned into virtual learning. You could say I am more than eager to be back in the hospital, providing care for others. 

4th Semester with COVID-19

Well, there has definitely been some significant change during this semester. It is my senior year of college and during this spring semester, we were only in school for about a month and a half. In a short amount of time, all of our classes were quickly turned into online classes. I am very appreciative to have instructors who are extremely hardworking and put so much work into transitioning into online courses. My mental health clinical section has been anxiously waiting to hear if the Board of Registered Nursing will approve our hours to be completed online. They approved us and now we can finish the semester online! It has been difficult to see my senior year cut short and the time left with my best friends taken away. I know many of us have been looking forward to commencement and have our families with us to recognize our hard work over these past four years. I know that I wanted all the time I had left in my college career to spend with the life long friends I have made here at Chico State. It was hard to see this semester end so abruptly and for everyone to be quarantined in their homes. Starting the semester I would have never imagined our campuses closing and classes being conducted through zoom. During this year, I made sure to spend time with my close friends as I knew it was our last year together. I have so many wonderful memories from college and even this last, short semester of my senior year. However, I graduate in Fall 2020, but the majority of my closest friends will complete their degrees this semester. This time is a reminder for me to spend quality time with those who are extremely close to you in your life and how much you appreciate/love them. You never know when the last time you are going to see someone in your life. I know that I will see my best friends again, but it will be a while during this pandemic. During this time, I am thankful for facetime and zoom so that I am able to see most of these people face to face. The extra time is also wonderful for me to be able to spend with my family and to have a little bit of a break. Most importantly, make sure to remind yourself to have a positive mindset and find the good things in every day. In my life, I emphasize a positive mindset and it can be hard for many of us during this time to have an optimistic outlook. Make sure to facetime with your friends and to stay in touch with people. It is important to remain engaged in your social interactions, especially for your mental health! Take this extra time to call those who you are grateful for and remind them of how much they mean to you!

ICU Clinical Rotation

Currently, I am almost halfway through my fourth semester of nursing school with one more to go. My ICU clinical is at Enloe Medical Center where I rotate through the neurotrauma surgery intensive care unit, intensive cardiovascular care unit, telemetry care unit, and cardiovascular care unit. This semester I have gained quite a bit of experience with IV medication administration practice. I see myself grow more and more as a nurse every semester. Reflecting on my past semesters, I never saw myself where I am now. I knew I had so much to learn, and I still do, but I am excited about the knowledge I have gained thus far. Medicine is always changing and there will always be more for me to learn, which was something I always wanted in my career. During my last semester, there was a day I was in the emergency department and felt my love for nursing truly spark. This past semester, my passion for this profession has grown more than I ever thought possible. I absolutely love going to clinical and being in the hospital. I have begun to feel so proud to be a nursing student and to have the amazing opportunities given to me through the Chico State Nursing Program. There is something that changed for me between my 3rd and 4th semester where I became so much more comfortable in my nursing role. Through clinical experience and theory classes, the pieces have clicked a little more each time I complete a semester. It feels as though I was just a first-semester student and did not think it would fly by as fast as everyone said it would. The closer I get to graduation, the more I realize to take in all of the experiences and appreciate the wonderful people I have met through this process.