Editors Note: This nursing student story essay was selected from BrainTrack's Nursing Schools Scholarship for fall 2009. At the time of submittal this entrant was studying for a Bachelor of Nursing at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Wishes Had Known |
Program Likes/Dislikes |
Choosing Nursing
What do you wish you had known about selecting and entering your nursing school that would be helpful to others going into nursing?
Most times it helps to thoroughly research the school and the program you are interested in studying. Even though the course may be what you are studying it may not be compatible with your style of learning. I did not know much about online classes and how things were done, but I learned quickly that you have to be self-motivated and able to work on your own. What I would say to a student wanting to become a nurse is to thoroughly research the school and the program.
Be sure that you speak with an advisor or two and that they are readily available, look and listen to any audio or visual presentation that the school offers on your program of choice. Know the time frame of the program or how long the program will last. Know the policy and procedures for the program and any problems that may occur and make sure that these policies and procedures are something that you can abide by. Most of all just knowing as much as you can about a program, the assistance that is offered and building good help references within that program are what helps to determine the best nursing school for an individual.
What have you enjoyed most and least during your nursing degree program so far?
I have enjoyed the convenience of online classes the most with this program. I don’t have a set time to be in class so therefore I am able to work at my own pace and also work full time. Doing online classes requires a lot of discipline but you can make it work. I usually find time first thing in the morning as I am getting ready for work and getting my daughter ready for school or late at night when everyone is asleep. I am usually at the computer in my pajamas with a cup of coffee hard at work. This really works for me. The downside to this is that sometimes help is not readily available. If you encounter a problem and you need assistance from your instructor you have to email most times to get a response and sometimes that answer could be the next day. If you are working on a timed scheduled this could be problem, because if you don’t get the help you need you could fall behind.
Also there are technical issues that arise occasionally, these are addressed in a timely manner, but if you are working on a time based issue then time is of the utmost importance. There are pros and cons to online learning, and this style may not work for everyone, but it really works well for me. I would not have been able to make it this far being a full time mom, wife and student without the convenience of online classes.
What led you to choose nursing as a career path?
I am not so sure if nursing chose me or I chose it. I can remember my first grade teacher asking everyone what they wanted to be when they grew up and my response was, a nurse. I grew up in rural Mississippi and most families didn’t have a lot so we all depended on each other. My mother took on the role of community caregiver. She went to see about people before her job and most evenings after her job, she never had any formal training. During these travels I always wanted to go with her to see what she was doing and why. It was during these trips that I learned to care for others and my love for caring for others grew. As soon as I learned what this was actually called, nursing, that’s what I knew I wanted to be.
There is no greater feeling in the world than helping someone else when they cannot help themselves or teaching them how to take care of themselves or their loved ones. Nursing is more than just a career to me, it is my life. I know no other way to live than to care for my neighbor, my family, my friend or the stranger that occasionally has a mishap that requires a little nursing.
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