ARTIFACT #1 My first Stethoscope
My first artifact is my first stethoscope which I bought for my first semester of nursing school when I was at Fleming College. This is the first thing that made it real for me I was in the process of reaching my first step on my career goal ladder. It is important to me and my nursing journey because it is a reminder to me of where I came from as a first-semester student knowing very little information about medicine and being a nurse to where I am now as a registered practical nurse for almost 2 years and how far I have come in my education and my experience. I hope that I always remember what it was like being a first-year student how intimidating it was and how nerve-wracking it was. For example, learning simple tasks like washing someone that I do not even think twice about doing when I am at work. It reminds me of where I started and to have grace and patience as I will eventually encounter nursing students when I have 10+ years under my belt.
ARTIFACT #2 Message from the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
The next artifact is my message from the CNO saying that I passed my registration exam! I was officially an RPN at 0400 on October 5, 2022. This message is so important for me on this nursing journey because it is a hopeful reminder that when things get tough and stressful I can make it. I made it once before and I will do it again, that is this reminder. Nursing school is one of the most challenging types of schooling you can go through. Writing a registration exam is the make-or-break moment of everything you have worked for for the past two and a half years it is as stressful as it gets. This is my reminder of how far I have come and how far I hope to go.
ARTIFACT #3 My First BLS certificate
This third artifact is my BLS certificate, the first one I got after officially becoming registered and I was applying to my first nursing job. This was the step I took to push myself to apply for jobs, career jobs. It was the certificate that I had to get to be able to get the job I currently have, working as an RPN. Nurses face difficult life-altering situations almost every day at work and this certificate taught me how to prepare myself for the challenges ahead. This was the new tool I had in my belt as a brand-new nurse ready to take on anything I was handed with confidence and made me feel prepared.
ARTIFACT #4 My Family
My next artifact is this photo of my family. My family has been my biggest supporter since day one since the first day I said I wanted to go to nursing school. They were there for me through every rejection I got, they were there when I was stressed with the new stresses I was facing in nursing school. They are there for me when I need them most of all, they help me strive to be the best I can be. I love them and they make me who I am today and I know they will play a big part in who I will become after this phase of life. They have helped me to grow into a nurse I can be proud of in the field I work in and the compassion I have for others. I will always use the skills they have taught me from tools and technology or computers to loving and caring for people because of how I am loved.
ARTIFACT #5 Offer of Admissions
The last artifact I have is my long-awaited acceptance letter from Trent. This email of my offer of admission is one that made such an impactful moment that I will remember it for the rest of my life. I knew there was always a reason I never got accepted the other times to Trent. There was a reason I was where I was in life then I got accepted. This letter is what started this current phase of life I am in and I would not be sitting in the classes I am now without this letter. After years of frustration and anger from being denied I finally got the offer of admissions that brings me to where I will be going in the next phase of life. This relates to my nursing journey and as a new beginning for me in this great return to nursing student life.