5 Artifacts

My first artifact is a congratulations email I received after I completed my training to be a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone in 2022. Being a Crisis Responder with Kids Help Phone has been a pivotal experience that has allowed me to connect with individuals in moments of distress, offering emotional support and guidance while maintaining a sense of empathy and compassion. Through my training with Kids Help Phone, I honed my ability to build rapport, listen actively and help individuals find safe ways to feel better in tough situations. The skills I developed, such as crisis intervention and emotional support, directly relate to my goal of becoming a mental health nurse because they taught me how to remain calm in stressful situations.

I am a part-time sailor in the Canadian Armed Forces. The military has a Sentinel program, which is a peer support network for military members who are dealing with emotional distress. I completed training in the military to become a Sentinel, which has allowed me to connect with other members of the military who are dealing with stressful situations and offer emotional support. Once a member has completed Sentinel training, they are permitted to wear a patch informing other military members that they are there to offer emotional support and resources. My second artifact is a picture of my Sentinel patch.  My experience in the Sentinel program through the Canadian Armed Forces relates to the nursing profession’s emphasis on emotional support and trust-building. Nursing can involve noticing when someone is struggling emotionally and being able to offer compassionate support while connecting them with appropriate resources. The Sentinel program, like nursing, focuses on creating an environment where people feel comfortable seeking help. Wearing the Sentinel patch signifies my commitment to this, much like how nurses must establish patient trust and support.

This artifact is the feedback I received from my Kids Help Phone supervisor after conversing with an imminent texter. An imminent texter is an individual who is considered high risk for self-harm. Through this conversation with an imminent texter, I applied core therapeutic communication techniques to support someone in an immediate crisis. My supervisor’s feedback emphasized my ability to maintain a calm and compassionate tone, offer non-judgmental support, and guide the texter toward safety. This validation reassured me of my capacity to manage emotionally charged interactions and encouraged me to continue developing these skills. This experience relates deeply to nursing, where establishing trust and providing emotional support in difficult situations is essential.

My final artifact is my nursing school acceptance letter. I had been living in Ottawa and trying to switch my undergraduate studies from Psychology to Nursing at the University of Ottawa. However, after spending over a year trying to get into school in Ottawa, I decided to apply to Trent and move back home. This has been a journey of self-discovery and resilience. The transition from Psychology to Nursing required a profound reflection on my personal and professional aspirations. The decision to apply to Trent University and return home symbolizes a fresh start and the realization that my passion lies in providing direct care and support to others. Getting accepted was the first step in my Nursing journey.