November 27th, 2012
Dear Off-Campus
Clinical,
Yesterday, I had my last off campus
clinical for this semester and I was surprisingly saddened by the fact that it
was the last day I would be with my clinical group. The whole experience has
been very surreal and I can’t believe that my first semester is coming to a
close. I’m glad that for my last off campus clinical experience, I was able to
observe the charge nurse perform a sterile wound dressing change on an
unstageable pressure ulcer. It was exciting to be able to see how a sterile
field and wound vac is supposed to be applied in the clinical setting. When the
soiled wound dressing was removed and the wound was revealed, the wound looked
so much like the pressure ulcers I’ve seen in my textbooks. I was tremendously
relieved that I did not feel nauseous or faint. Is this possibly a sign from
the universe that I might be cut out for this field…who knows?! At the moment,
I need the encouragement so I’m going to be positive and take this as a sign
that I should stick it out in this program.
At the end of the day, I was given
the chance to discuss my overall clinical experience with my clinical
instructors. At this time, I was able to thank my clinical instructors for
providing me a comfortable environment for my transition from a simple student
to a nursing student. I’ve realized that I have become progressively more
confident with addressing patients and healthcare staff. I was glad to have
exposure to both the hospital and nursing home setting because it has given me
a better idea of which nursing specialty I want to pursue in the future. For
now, I have an inclination toward the hospital setting because I feel that a
faster paced, critical environment suits me better. Furthermore, I don’t believe
I want to work in geriatrics until I am older and until I gather experience in
other specialties.
Goodbye Off-Campus
Clinical,
Clos3tGirlyGirl
