Reflection

I started my nursing journey straight out of high school. I always knew I wanted to do something meaningful with my life and I knew I wanted to be able to help people. For a long time, I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. I bounced around career prospects like working as a social worker, or a pharmacist, but nothing felt right. For a long time, I was at a loss for what exactly I was supposed to do, but after experiencing a hospital setting during my grandfather’s battle with cancer, I felt that nursing could be my calling. I applied for nursing programs in high school and only hoping I would get in somewhere. Little did I know I would end up being offered admission to my top choice school, Trent University. Although I was incredibly excited to start nursing, admittedly, I was also very anxious. I wasn’t sure if I could manage the difficulties of nursing school and wasn’t the most confident if this was really what I wanted to do. Despite the initial fears and challenges I have faced since the beginning, I do believe I made the right choice and I am excited to continue my journey next semester.

Over my first semester in university, I have found that nursing is what I am truly passionate about. Early on, I recognized that, unlike in high school where my studies were an obligation, I was genuinely interested in the content I was learning. This realization began when we started discussing holistic care, in the early weeks. While there is no precise definition, holistic care emphasizes having an in-depth understanding of the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of your patients (Jasemi et al., 2019). It is about understanding that there are factors beyond illness and disease that affect the patient’s health (Jasemi et al., 2019). This really resonated with me and was one of the first concepts that made me confident in my choice to go into nursing. I realized holistic care is ultimately what separates nursing as its own distinct science (Jasemi et al., 2019). I realized that nursing is so much more than just administering medication and treating illnesses, you are in a position to have a profound impact on another person’s life. I went into this program to make a difference, and the more I learn about nursing, the more I understand the true ability I have to do so. I’ve also realized I am in a place where I’m eager to put in the hard work and dedication necessary to make that difference.

While my passion for nursing does motivate my journey, that journey has not been without many challenges. Nursing school is notoriously difficult, there is a high workload and competing demands which have taken some adjusting to. Originally, it felt impossible. While I faced stress in high school, it is pale in comparison to the constant stress I was feeling in university. Being away from home for the first time, seemingly endless amounts of work, little free time, and the pressure I put on myself to excel academically began to be debilitating. However, since starting I have developed time management and self-care practices that have alleviated some of the stress I was feeling. This is extremely important in nursing as stress factors such as part-time employment, insufficient academic support, heavy course loads, and unfavorable environments have a direct correlation to academic performance (Gripshi et al., 2022). Recognizing and identifying these stressors is key to implementing measures to reduce them (Gripshi et al., 2022). For instance, I was struggling with homesickness, managing competing priorities, and making time for myself. By acknowledging these as the main causes of my stress I have been able to implement tools to manage. One of the most helpful strategies has been scheduling everything in a planner. This allows me to organize my tasks, track deadlines, and allocate time for both study and self-care. Additionally, I make it a priority to stay connected with my family and visit home when I can, which has been vital for my emotional well-being. While it is an ongoing struggle, I continue to experiment with strategies to ease the stress and I feel confident with the right tools and mindset, I can manage the pressures of nursing school.

Though my journey into nursing school had a bit of a rocky start, I have enjoyed the content and what I have learned thus far and I am excited for the future. Next semester, I will start my first clinical placement. I am eager to begin my transition out of the classroom and to begin the more hands-on aspects of the program. Placements are essential for developing skills, integrating nursing theories into real-life practice, and providing insight into what it’s like to be a nurse (Zhang et al., 2022). Clinical studies are crucial in shaping nursing students’ education as placement experiences affects their learning and influence future career choices (Zhang et al., 2022). I am excited to expand my nursing knowledge, dive deeper into the role of the nurse, and learn more about the potential career paths that lie ahead. I believe that my clinical experience will solidify my confidence in nursing as the right choice for me, and hopefully will only deepen my passion.

As I now look back on my first semester of nursing school I am filled with a deepened sense of purpose and excitement for the future. Although I have faced many challenges, and often questioned whether nursing was the right choice, I feel now more confident than ever that I am pursuing the right career path. My passion for nursing has only grown since I started my program at Trent, and I hope that as I move through my nursing journey that passion only grows.