Reflection
As a child, the sciences had always deeply interested me, coming from my two parents in their respective stem fields. As I grew, discovering my values and further interests, this began to lead towards a career in the medical sciences, following my nurse mother. Concepts of compassion and caregiving were ingrained into me in my childhood, and I strove to in the future be the encouraging and caring figure for others that my teachers and parents were for me. Even in elementary school, I was the friend who helped clean up and bandage playground scrapes, and offered my ear to help others vent frustration. Ultimately, my interest in human biology and love for care blossomed into my goal of becoming a healthcare professional, and now, a nurse.
From that point forward, I applied myself. In grade 8, I was selected for the Trent Enrichment Program, and I used that to familiarise myself with Trent and the university pathway. I then planned all my high school courses forward in the academic level, and had them lined up in a way that they met all the Trent University entrance requirements. I worked towards a high average and wound up graduating with honours, giving myself a good shot at any course I set my mind on
In the end, I was torn between the medical professional and nursing streams, but decided to go for nursing, as it better fit my nature and goals for a career I would find fulfilling. I understood that nursing is a demanding and stressful career, as nurses are the frontline workers of the healthcare system. Despite this, registered nurses also report high levels of job satisfaction in their careers, with up to 80% reporting either moderate or high job satisfaction in their work (HRSA, 2024). I understand that nursing isn’t just a job- it’s a commitment to being a compassionate, caring and responsible person who others depend on every day. I believe that feeling accomplished and seeing the recovery of others within my care will be incredibly rewarding, no matter the difficulty of work it took to get them there.
So far, I believe I made the right choice. While the nursing program is difficult, it is deeply interesting, and I find each lesson connects with my personal values and beliefs. I never respected before just how much information nurses have to remember and apply daily, and I only find it more inspirational now. I have also learned more of their struggles, such as how common burnout is in the field. This pushes me to discover my own stress management techniques that I can use going forward to ensure I do not feel overwhelmed in the field.
One thing I’ve had to work through since getting into the program is self governance. Being used to the rigid times and schedules set out by high school, I have been adapting to feeling sometimes lost or unsupported in the very carefree environment, as much as I also enjoy the independence. Applying these new skills next semester will ideally cement them in my mind going forward in school and my future career. Additionally, I find myself afraid of the thought of moving into my career as a student. In a career such as nursing, I struggle with the fear of making a mistake as the caretaker for injured and disadvantaged people. During long term care clinicals next semester, I aim to prove my own competency to not only my instructors, but to myself as well.
Impostor syndrome is another issue, especially in nursing. In a compilation of studies, it was noted that students of nursing and other medical professions struggle with high rates of impostor syndrome, with negative mental effects along with it (Peng et al., 2022). While I feel unconfident in myself as a nursing student at times, I am worried that it will progress further as I transition into clinicals and actively practise aspects of nursing. Proving my competence next semester will hopefully eliminate any impostor syndrome I struggle with, making me finally feel like a functioning part of the nursing stream here at Trent University.
Going forward with my transition into the role of a practising nurse, I will work to upload the CNO values of nursing- being “competent, ethical and compassionate” in my provision of care (CNO,2019). In my clinical work next term and beyond, I will continue to work to become the supportive and compassionate caregiver I’ve aimed to be since I was still a child, using past and future challenges and possible failures to continue growth and learning each day.