My 28 month nursing journey…

My name is Danielle and I am a first year BSCN nursing student at Trent University.

When I decided to attend university to become a Registered Nurse, I committed by buying the Trent scrub shirt and the text books. As a mom of 3 kids, reality quickly set in, and I realized I was in for the long haul. Late nights studying and many assignments and quizzes quickly became part of my everyday life, all while working full time as an RPN in Peterborough, Ontario.

This ebook will give you a peek into my nursing education. These glimpses into my education will include laughing, tears, serious comments as well as comments that I may want to throw in the towel.

As a mom of 3, I began my education in nursing in 2021 at Sir Sandford Fleming College. It was during COVID that I decided it would be a good idea to join the nursing forces to try to make a difference in someone else’s life as well as mine. I wanted to be a role model for my kids. I had been laid off during COVID as I worked for the casinos in Human Resources, and needed a change of career. My kids told me “you are too old to go back to school”, as a mom in her 40s. I stated “You are never too old to go back to school and learn something new”. So off I went. I graduated with honours and my kids were so proud. I worked for a couple of years and came to the realization I wanted more out of my career in nursing. I loved what I did, but wanted to venture into other areas like teaching or more critical care. I applied to Trent, my kids once again said “You are too old to go to university”. I was accepted and now here I am. In my second month of  the compressed program.

Nursing is a career path that has many benefits. Some of the reasons that I have chosen nursing as my career path include: The demand for nurses. I feel there will always be job opportunities and little to no worries in having a stable job. There are many different paths a nurse can take, including but not limited to pediatrics, geriatrics, emergency medicine, education, research and mental health. You are almost able to pursue any passion that you have. The work of a nurse is extremely rewarding. There is something to be said about a career that impacts an individuals life. We are able to provide comfort in times of need, and can leave our shift at the end of the day feeling incredibly rewarded. The main reason I am going back to school is that there is constant learning in healthcare. With the ever-changing technology, treatments and opportunties, I will continue to evolve as a nurse, and each day, week and year will be different in my career.

My hopes and dreams of this program include being a role model for my kids to do whatever their heart desires. To make sure that they pursue a career that they that enjoy. Learning is endless, especially with nursing. I hope this journey is challenging, (yet doable), and that I am able to handle what is thrown at me. I hope to remain humble, compassionate and determined to meet my goals to becoming a registered nurse. I expect there to be tears, frustration, and many laughs along the way. I hope to meet new friends, and potential future coworkers amongst this journey. I one day dream of becoming a nurse educator or to work in critical care in the Peterborough region. Nursing is a career that involves your heart, mind and soul. It can be empowering, chaotic, organized, maddening and upsetting.

I am hoping this ebook will help you see from my perspective how truly intense nursing school is, all while showing you how grateful I am to be able to continue my education.