Reflecting

So, my first semester of nursing school was...

-Exciting
-Overwhelming
-Frustrating
-Challenging
-Rewarding
-Crazy
-Busy
-Emotional
-Powerful
-Fast

Nursing school for me was an answer to prayer. The semester started off overwhelming, it was all of the information that was given to us in the very first week. I didn't think that I would make it to the end! However, during the process, God showed me so many things about myself that I didn't know before.  For the first time in school, I actually felt that I was where I was supposed to be. With God's strength helping me, I managed to keep good grades. One of my prayers going into nursing school was that I would make more friends, as well as grow in my relationship with God. Those prayers were answered very quickly. God helped me strengthen relationships that I already had, and make many new ones as well. I was faced with a number of trials along the way, but I am in the home stretch now. I feel as if I am where the Lord wants me. Going through my first semester of nursing school has shown me that I am capable of achieving my goals of being a nurse, and that I can really do all things with Christ's strength.

My nursing friends and I out to eat dinner together. 

Communication is Key

Communication is key in the medical field and in every aspect of life. Teamwork is so important along with the communication that goes along with it. A team is described in the lesson as “A group of people who work together in a coordinated way, which maximizes each team members’ strengths, to achieve a common goal”.

With effective teamwork and collaboration, less human errors will occur, and patient safety is obtainable. More benefits of this include reduction of medical errors and priorities are made.

The many consequences of poor teamwork and communication are that it affects overall performance, patient injuries or deaths can occur, and the lack of communication with a coworker can cause frustrations and mistakes.

In practice, I will always implement teamwork and proper communication because I want to ensure the patient of the best outcomes possible. We cannot assume safety, we have to be the ones to take action!  

This picture represents the communication and teamwork that needs to take place to ensure the best outcomes for patients. 

source: http://www.nursetogether.com/Career/Career-Article/itemId/2000/Was-There-Ever-an-I-in-Teamwork-Nursing.aspx#.UVOVq6U5vww

Learning the Ropes

These first several weeks of nursing school have been quite challenging. I am definitely still in the process of learning the ropes. Nursing school hit me hard with: the amount of chapters covered in one test, the lack of sleep, the realization that my social life has to be put on hold, and the tremendous need for God’s strength to keep me afloat. I feel like as first time nursing students, we tend to run ourselves dry studying for one test. At least, this is what happened to me. I wore myself out after studying non-stop for our first big test, and then by the time it was the next weekend, I had a huge struggle trying to stay focused studying for the second test. I have realized that I need to take time out to relax and re-energize! Everybody has a different thing that they can do to relax, and mine would by to catch up on sleep and hang out with friends for a little bit. I feel as though we need those moments where we can relax and then be rewarded by a more focused mind set while studying.

        Getting into the groove of nursing school is essential now because next semester is supposed to be twice the amount of work! By realizing the best ways to study now, and the best ways to handle your stress, it will pay off in the future because you will “know the ropes”. The biggest thing that will keep us going through school is God. He is our source of strength and comfort through this tough three-year journey. Making time with God a priority in nursing school will definitely be the secret ingredient to finishing strong!

This picture is such a great reminder of who God is and how he is our strength forever. I also love this picture because it shows one of the most amazing parts of his creation: The Human Heart. 

Keeping God in the Center

How much time do you give God daily? When I think about this question for myself, I realize that I usually give facebook, my boyfriend, and worrying about my schoolwork most of my time. I sometimes forget to stop and thank God for what he has done for me. I am in the process of changing myself, so that my life will exemplify God’s work and heart. The first step in doing this is to give God the time he deserves. God desires to have an intimate relationship with us; and that requires spending time with him. God deserves so much more time than we usually give him. Being nursing students, it is going to get even harder because we are so busy with schoolwork all the time. Here are some tips that I find very helpful and essential to maintaining a God-centered life.

1.     Pray continuously

·      Have conversations with God throughout your day and rely on him to strengthen you in times of stress!

·      “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” -1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NIV

2.     Talk with a friend about sermons or chapels that you listen to and apply them to your life.

·      This builds deeper friendships, and an accountability partner.

·      “As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.” -Proverbs 27: 17 NIV

3.     Take out time to read the Bible

·      Whether before bed or when you wake up in the morning, take out some time to spend getting to know God better and listening to him before your day starts.

·       “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” –Romans 10: 17 NIV

4.     Live a life of thanksgiving

·      When you take time to reflect on what God has done for you, it draws you closer to him and it helps you appreciate the things in life.

·      “I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.” –Psalm 69: 30 NIV

5.     Share your burdens with God

·      God knows the burdens that each one of us carries, and he desires to help us, and guide us if we let him.

·      “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11: 28-30 NIV

This Picture symbolizes us, and the fact that we need to "FaceTime" (pray) with God more, and get closer to him daily.

Source: Google

As nursing students, we have a long, tough road ahead of us. One thing I do know is that we need God’s strength and love to get us to the end!