- I remember when I was a young woman, just starting out in the medical field. I would watch the seasoned ones with awe and longing. I ended up finishing my nursing degree while in the Navy. I was stationed at a teaching hospital and saw so many things. Not being restricted by any rules that typically govern most traditional nursing schools, I was encouraged to get hands on experience in skills that even now as a RN are considered out of my scope of practice in a civilian sector. At that time, I would watch other Corpsman performing amazing clinical skills with such ease. I thought, one day I’ll get there.
- When I did finish Nursing School, I cried when I got my diploma. The first thing I realized at my first job as a RN, was that I knew absolutely nothing! All the school and all the training while working as a Corpsman, gave me a wonderful foundation that placed me at an advantage when compared to my peers, but didn’t mean so much when it came down to it. It was because the medical field is so complex. You will never know everything and you’ll never stop learning.
- One day you wake up and you go to work, and when you look around, you see young faces looking back at you. You realize you’re doing the training. Your answering the questions, and you’re demonstrating the skills. People come to you with questions, expecting the answers. I don’t know how it happens, but one day you realize you’re not the new guy anymore, and it scares the hell out of you. One thing you’ll never do, though, is stop learning. And you’ll never think you have all the answers. When you do, it’s time to move on.
That is all 🙂