Final Analysis

NUR 4140 – Synthesis for Nursing Practice

Ashton Birdsong

While reflecting on my last 3 years as a student at Bon Secours Memorial College

of Nursing, I realized how blessed I have been for the all of the opportunities that have
molded me into the new graduate nurse I am about to be. Through Bon Secours, I have
been able to experience a wide variety of clinical experiences while interacting with a
wide-range of patients across the Richmond area. I can confidently say that each and
every hour that I spent in the clinicals strengthened my passion, competency, and overall
appreciation for the profession I am about to begin. That isn’t to say that there weren’t
some challenging and difficult days, because that just simply isn’t possible in the world
of healthcare. But I found that though those harder days, came more confidence and
competence in my nursing skills and critical thinking ability when caring for my current
and future patients.
One of my most memorable and significant patient encounters showed me that
even the smallest actions can have the greatest and most profound changes in a patient’s
status. I was at St. Francis on the Ortho unit, and truthfully had never really cared for a
patient in critical condition. My instructor, Dr. Smith, who was an incredible role model
during my time at BSMCON, assigned me just one patient that morning, which was
unusual because until that morning I was used to being assigned two patients. Dr. Smith
pulled me aside and said, “Ashton, this patient is going to need all of your attention
today. She is circling the drain, and has been declining rapidly. She needs your kindness
today and I know you’re going to deliver the best care you can.” I nodded and smiled,
and went into the room the introduce myself to my patient just as I always had. I was
greeted by her worried husband who was at her bedside, and immediately noticed that
this woman was a lot sicker than I had anticipated.
This patient was connected to more tubes than I had seen before on a patient, and
wasn’t alert but intermittently moaned in pain. I immediately felt helpless. I thought to
myself, “Seriously, what can I do? I am just a student nurse.” I expressed my doubts to
Dr. Smith, who, with a kind smile and wise voice said, ““Instead of thinking what you
can’t do, start thinking about what you can do.”
So, I went back to the basics. I washed her face, which truthfully looked like it
hadn’t been done since she had been admitted. She immediately responded to that with a
smile and a sweet, reassuring squeeze on my hand. After speaking with the nurse
assigned to the patient, I asked for clarification on whether or not the NG tube inserted in
the patients nose was still necessary. After consulting with the provider, it was decided
that the patient no longer would need it. I removed the NG tube, brushed her hair, gave
her a fresh set of sheets, and a new gown, and in no time the patient looked, and even
began to act, like a completely different person.
She began to become alert, and even start talking to me about her dogs at home
and how much she missed them and wished she was home with them. Her husband and
daughters took me aside and thanked me for advocating for their loved one. They told me
that I had the heart of a nurse, and after that day, I actually started to believe that.
 Another experience I’ll never forget was on the Pediatric Unit at St. Mary’s,
which was by far one of my favorite clinical sites I had. On that specific day, Mrs. Buck,
not only my favorite clinical instructor but also the best Pediatric nurse I’ve had the
pleasure of knowing, began assigning us our patients in our morning huddle with my
clinical group. She asked if anyone wanted to be daring and take two patients on that day,
which was a step up from what we were used to doing on that unit. Now, normally, I shy
away from situations like that, but for that exact reason, I raised my hand. I’ve known
I’ve wanted to be a Pediatric nurse since I decided to become a nurse, and I wanted to
prove to myself that I could handle it. Naturally, the day did not run as smoothly as I had
hoped. Anything that could go wrong went wrong, and the wave of discouragement I felt
made me feel like I wasn’t ever going to be a Peds nurse. That day, I learned the value of
time management and prioritization of tasks. There was one moment that I was so
overwhelmed that there were tears in my eyes, but I took a deep breath and kept going. I
took a second, re-centered myself and got organized. Mrs. Buck had initially seen me
struggling at first, and I was so happy that she saw me get myself together again. She told
my clinical group in post conference that I really impressed her with my ability to
vocalize and realize that some days things just don’t go right and that that’s okay. It’s
how you deal with the situation at hand and more importantly, that you continue to care
for your patients to the best of your ability. She was exactly right, and I am so happy to
say that my first position as a new nurse will be my dream come true as a Pediatric
Emergency Nurse.
While I know I have a lot to learn, Bon Secours has prepared me for this
incredible journey I am about to begin. This truly is a calling and I have definitely been
called to serve. Everyday and every patient is a new learning opportunity, which is so
unique to find. Not only have I met best friends through this process, but I have met best
friends who love to care like I do and realize that nursing isn’t just a job, it’s a profession
built by love. These truly have been the best three years of my life and I can happily say
that I will be a better nurse because of the relationships that have been built and
experiences that I have lived these past few years and I owe that to Bon Secours.