A Nursing School Take Home Message

July 8, 2010 · Category: President's Message

Author: Angela Schwab, SN, BSN, CNSA President 2009-2010, President@cnsa.org

It seems obvious that three years of Nursing School would be an educational experience. As students, we are inundated with information from how to change a bed to saving a life. It has been over a month since I graduated. The majority of that time was spent studying for my NCLEX, taking practice exams and reviewing content. In the process, I realized just how much information is crammed into a nurse’s education. During a recent conversation with a good friend, I was asked “so what is the take away message?” That question got me thinking, aside from all of the textbook and clinical knowledge that I will take with me into my nursing practice, what has nursing school taught me? I was able to narrow it down to the top ten things I learned in nursing school.
10. Complaining about something does not provide a solution. It is easy to get caught up in negative conversations, but in order to make a difference, it is important to evaluate and discuss how things can be done differently to provide better outcomes.

9. We all cry sometimes. Nursing school takes physical, mental and emotional stamina. Sometimes a good cry helps relieve the stress.

8. Laughter really is good medicine. A good cry helps, but laughter makes it better. Sometimes all you can do is a take step back and laugh. Having a sense of humor can make all the difference.

7. Mistakes are always opportunities for learning. As nurses there is little room for mistakes. When they do happen learn from them. Self loathing will not make up for forgetting to have the information an MD asked for. Remembering that they asked for it before will prepare you for the next time.

6. CNAs are phenomenal people. They literally do the dirty work in the hospital, have a heavier patient load, and get paid a lot less; yet they continue to come back for more. Nurses and nursing students should remember to show them appreciation. Our job would be so much harder without them.

5. Every time you walk into a clinical site you are on a potential job interview. When nursing students are at clinical, dress, initiative, and work ethic are noticed by the staff. When students leave, that message gets passed along and will make a difference when it is time to apply for a job.

4. Most people like to share their life experiences they just need someone to listen. It is amazing how much a nursing student can learn about someone by just taking a few minutes to listen.

3. Getting involved in nursing organizations is essential. Nursing makes up the majority of the healthcare workforce, but our voice is not as strong as it could be. Getting involved in nursing organizations is the only way to unify our voice and make it as strong as it should be.

2. Acknowledgement and appreciation are not always given, when it is enjoy it. Nursing school involves a lot of work and dedication. Between exams, papers, care plans and clinical days students are given a great deal of responsibility and little recognition. Take the time to celebrate a good grade, praise from an instructor, preceptor or peer, or a simple thank you from a patient or family member.

1. There is still so much that I have to learn. It is impossible to know everything. Everyday offers learning opportunities. Reference books are on nursing units for a reason.

Nursing school was an amazing journey. It is easier to appreciate all the ways it has enhanced my life now that I am finished and have my RN. Everyone will have a different take away message from their nursing school experience. Thank you for allowing me to share mine with you.

Angela Schwab RN, BSN, CNSA President

Your Image and Landing Your First Job

July 20, 2010 · Category: Message

Author: Kimberly Vaughan, SN, BSN, CNSA Image of Nursing Committee Chair, iondir@cnsa.org

During Joanne Kingsbury’s keynote address at the June 12, 2010 Council of Chapter Representatives Meeting about how to land your first job, many times I caught myself nodding my head in agreement because she talked about numerous topics that correlate to the image of nursing.
Some of the key points of her talk were: your appearance, accomplishments/weaknesses, resume, and the interview. What stood out to me the most was appearance. Appearance is very important when it comes to landing any job, not just a job in the nursing profession.

The way you dress and the way you present yourself helps your interviewers (and hopefully future employers) judge what kind of employee you might be. If you dress appropriately and professionally, then hopefully they will see you that way. If you dress or look sloppy, not put together, or come off as frantic and rushed then they may get the perception that you will reflect the same trend in your work ethics.

First impressions and the handshake are crucial in guiding the rest of the interview. Present yourself, greet your interviewers and anyone else in the room and give them a firm, confident handshake while looking them in the eye. This initial presentation sets the baseline of the interview. When walking into an interview, always make sure you are holding your resume in your left hand so your right hand is free. Also, do not bring in coffee, food, or chew gum! These may seem like common sense, but Kingsbury says that interviewers see it all the time.

In these harsh economic times everyone keeps hearing how difficult it is to get a job as a nurse, let alone as a new graduate from a nursing program searching for your first job. While it may be true that the job market is tight out there, there are always things that you can do on your part to present yourself as the competent, and well-educated students and future nurses that you are. Remember to assess the image you are portraying to your future employers before you go into an interview. Make sure it is a positive image of not only you, but of the nursing profession as a whole. Good luck searching for that first job! You will do great!

Kimberly Vaughan
Ad-Hoc Image of Nursing Committee Chair

Dancing in the Rain

July 8, 2010 · Category: Editorial

Author: Anna Viet, SN, BSN, CNSA Communications Director, 2009-2010, conventiondirector@cnsa.org

When looking for inspiration one tends to come across cliché quotes such as “As long as you learn from your mistakes”, “Whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger”, and “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. We all know that nursing school is one of the toughest things that some of us had to endure or are still undergoing. Nursing is such a unique profession and opportunity that a variety of people take on. Each nursing student must not only carry the weight of the wealth of knowledge that we are expected to absorb, but in addition, some juggle having a family to provide for, ending and beginning new relationships, or struggle simply from the “growing pains” of finding oneself and maturing.

Anyone that has graduated from nursing school will give a nursing student the same assurance that everything will be okay and that “we will get through it” just has they have. Knowing this piece of wisdom however does not always make taking a final any easier. Instead of constantly anticipating our graduation, maybe it would be more productive to stop for a moment to enjoy what we are going through.

Enjoy the exams because they allow you to bond and foster friendships through study groups. Enjoy the clinical rotations and preceptorships because one day we may have students eager to learn from us. Enjoy the long hours because you have made a difference in someone’s life. Enjoy nursing school and summers off, because when we graduate, most of us will be spending the majority of the rest of our lives in a hospital. Everything happens for a reason we just have to embrace it and take each challenge, each hardship, and each bump in the road one day at a time. I leave you all with one final quote that really stood out to me: “Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass… it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” –anonymous

Dameron Hospital is offering another EKG Class on Aug 9 & 10th if you missed the last one. The cost is $40, plus you will get a certificate. You can register in the Education Office (which is across the street from Dameron hospital). It is a great class to refresh your knowledge or learn for the very 1st time.