REFLECTION
In 2023, I began my post-secondary education at Georgian College as a Pre-Health Sciences student. This pathway was my opportunity to get into where I wanted to go, which was nursing. This college program taught me a great deal both academically and intrapersonally. This was my first year away from home, which was scary but allowed me to develop independence and confidence. I gained a knowledge base that has drastically assisted me in my nursing education so far. It was a great introduction to thinking like a healthcare professional including continuous learning and critical thinking. I have learned that critical thinking is “a self-aware and self-regulated thought process” (Xu 2023). It also allowed me to understand how I, individually, can set myself up for success by developing plans, strategies, schedules, and self-care practices. I am proud of the resilience I have built as well as the accomplishments I have made, such as being on the dean’s list during that program.
In September 2024, I began my first year of nursing school at Trent University. The whole journey of getting here has been surreal and a dream come true. I was excited but very anxious to begin this journey, as it was a big change, but a step in the right direction. Now that I am here, I am constantly growing and learning new things. I have quickly realized that nursing is a calling and is much more than a field that I am so passionate about. Reflecting on this has solidified that being a nurse is my purpose; to touch the lives of others and to make a difference. The transition from high school to college to university has been two huge jumps in time management and expectations that come with each. Throughout this course of learning how to be a nurse, I have goals to achieve, connections to make and memories to be cherished.
It is extremely important to me that I flourish into a nurse I would look up to and that I strive endlessly to become better. At times, I feel nervous about entering practice since the title holds such responsibility and unpredictability of what to expect. In a study, it was found that “during the very first period as a nurse a feeling of uncertainty and chaos was experienced whether the nurses worked in a hospital setting or home care, whether the workplace was familiar or not.” (Wangensteen 2008). Feelings of anxiety are expected, however the anticipation I feel to get started surpasses negative emotions. Among all the stress I plan to take care of myself by putting a self-care system in place. It is reported that “over 40% of hospital nurses experience work-related burnout.” (Green 2021). Burnout is a very common occurrence as nurses, therefore it is crucial to prioritize yourself first. To do this, we can foster habits such as mindfulness. Registered nurse Alyssa Green describes mindfulness as “a shift in perspective and a detachment to sensations and thought, allowing one to accept rather than avoid unpleasant sensations and cravings.” (Green 2021).