Artifacts

Here is my first artifact, my Practical Nursing Diploma from Fleming College. This diploma is a stepping stone for me, especially wanting to be a Registered Nurse. My RPN credential offers the necessary clinical experience and essential information that can significantly facilitate the transition to RN school and practice, even though the responsibilities of RPNs and RNs differ. My RPN diploma offers me a clear path, as I transition into RN school and pursue more senior nursing positions. It also allows me to join the industry with relevant experience and qualifications.

Here is the second artifact that I have: my work badge. I work at Groves Memorial Community Hospital (GMCH) in Fergus, Ontario. I have worked in the Emergency Department for about seven months now as a new graduate RPN. It is also where I consolidated as a Practical Nursing student with Fleming College. Then luckily, with my hard work, I got hired after graduation. At the start of nursing school, I dreamt of working in the emergency department, and that dream came true. Getting hired to work at the emergency department is significant to my nursing journey as it is my first nursing job, but it is also more than just my first job in the healthcare field. It is a stepping stone to my development as a nurse. Working at the ER as a new graduate is significant to me as it offers a distinctive and demanding setting in which it develops my critical thinking, clinical, and interpersonal skills. Emergency nursing is crucial to my professional development because of its high-stakes, fast-paced character.

I started working as a personal care aide or as a personal support worker at the retirement home called Riverside Glen, which the Schlegel Village owns, while I was in practical nursing school—working as a PSW while in nursing school gave me valuable and significant experiences as a person and most especially as a nursing student. Even though a PSW and a nurse have different responsibilities, the job that I did as a PSW offered real-world, hands-on experience that improved my nursing education and patient care abilities and overall helped me to become a more comprehensive healthcare professional.

Another artifact is my Basic Life Support certificate with Heart and Stroke. This certificate is beneficial and essential for everyone, especially for me, as I am enrolled in the BScN program with Trent and working as an RPN in the emergency department. As a healthcare provider and an RN student, I believe that BLS is essential as it will be the foundation for managing life-threatening situations in the community and clinical settings. Nurses who have received BLS training are more equipped to manage emergencies right away and more able to collaborate with others in stressful situations, ultimately improving patient care and survival.

Lastly, this is my acceptance letter to continue my education and obtain my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Trent University. Like a few of the artifacts I have discussed, this is also one significant milestone that reminds me that I am another step closer to where I want to be in my career.It also indicates the potential for my career advancement, higher earning potential, and professional growth. This acceptance letter will lead me to more specialized and different nursing positions in the future.