Right now I am sitting on a plane- my last flight before I land at the Oakland airport (it is 66 degrees there right now… my graduation weekend was 109 with an index of 118- you win, California). My boyfriend is picking me up and whisking me away to a family barbeque where I will bask in the glow of my neurotic terriers and homemade margaritas. I can’t wait.
In the last few weeks I’ve had a lot of time to think, or rather, to process this year. The words challenging and fast paced are ones that first come to mind, however they are quickly followed by ‘life-changing’ and ‘thought-provoking’.
My last clinical- transitions- was my finest. My preceptor is now one of my good friends and I will miss her terribly, among the amazing friends and now nurses that I’ve met here. During transitions I went in sprinting, and came out sprinting- I loved the pace and everyday nursing challenges my floor offered: patients leaving AMA, heart and diabetes complications, psych issues (and that’s just in one patient!). I did well in the busy environment and am excited to find my niche in the vast nursing community.
It was hard for me not to tear up during my graduation, with family looking on- the glaring red light from our family video camera blinking at me. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my incredible and exceptional family and friends, but I also know that this is a special, personal accomplishment.
I am so proud to have finished this program. To be a nurse. To be a Hopkins nurse.
For anyone that has questions about the program, please feel free to email me at my permanent Hopkins address: [email protected].
