I Made A Difference

My last practical was AMAZING! I can't say a lot because of privacy, but let me just say that I had the opportunity to spend the entire day with a patient who was uncomfortable and full of anxiety about all of the changes going on - most especially the fact that he had recently been in the hospital and was now a new inpatient at the rehab facility. He was developmentally challenged and was struggling with the new environment, all of the new faces, and the fact that he didn't feel well. Throughout the day I grew to love this patient, and we were able to connect. He learned to trust me enough that he started making steps towards communication, not verbal, but definitely understandable communication - something he has not done since he became ill.

It is the most amazing feeling to know that I was able to make a difference! This is the reason I want to become a nurse! I know that not every situation will turn out positive - but times like these make everything worthwhile! The feeling of helping someone is incredible! How blessed I feel to be able to experience it.

School is something akin to being in a torture chamber. The feelings of stress and anxiety to learn everything that we need, not only to pass the tests, but to be able to perform well in the workforce, are immense. There is a very real threat at all times of not performing well enough on the tests to be able to continue. It is much more difficult than I could have ever imagined. I feel that I am on the verge of an anxiety attack most of the time. Fortunately, I have times like I did at my last practical where I really feel that it is all worthwhile. Times like those truly sustain me and carry me through.