Final Analysis

Wow! That is what comes to mind as I reflect on my journey through nursing school. The

journey has been a long journey, but God has revealed so much to me about Him and myself. I

know that I have made it to the end of this journey by His grace, mercy, favor, and power. I

recall the day that I found out I was accepted into the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

(BSMCON) program. Ms. Maria Vasquez called me to confirm my acceptance, and I cried on

the phone. I thanked her over and over again. I could not believe it. I have desired to be a nurse

since I was a teenager. However, life circumstances routed me in a different direction for my

career.

Nevertheless, the desire to become a nurse never left me. I recall the rush of energy I

would feel when I walked into a hospital or healthcare facility. I would be immediately drawn to

the sounds, energy, and smell (weird, right?). When I was in a hospital environment, I knew that

I belonged there. I instantly felt a feeling of fulfillment. I applied a few times to other nursing

programs but was never accepted. I remember the long journey of completing the prerequisites

and trying to remain encouraged. I truly believed that nursing was my calling if I felt the desire

so strongly to become a nurse. So, here I am today. Unfortunately, I did not do well in my first

semester. I was trying to continue to work full time and be a full-time student. I was drained and

burned out.

A former coworker said to me, “Angela, if you want to walk on water, you have to get

out of the boat,” a book written by John Ortberg. She recommended that I read the book. I

thought to myself, “is she listening to me? I don’t have time to read anything outside of health

assessment or my other study material”. I thought, okay, I can listen to the audiobook. I

purchased the audiobook from iTunes. It was inspiring and encouraging that I finished the
audiobook in two days. After completing the audiobook, I finally decided to walk on faith and

resign from my administrative role with DaVita Healthcare. Unfortunately, it was too late in the

semester, and I had to repeat two courses. I am grateful for Mrs. Pryor, my practicum instructor.

She encouraged me and said she knew I would be an excellent nurse; and said, no matter how the

semester ends, do not give up on your dream. She was right! As I am now in my last semester,

ironically, she is my immersion instructor. It has been encouraging to start with her and end with

her.

The words from Mrs. Pryor pushed me to study harder the following semester. Although

I missed a semester of practicum training, I looked forward to applying my skills during the

junior one semester. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we did not have much

clinical time. However, I was able to lean on the nursing skills I learned during my sophomore

semester and combine them with the clinical skills I was learning during my junior semester. The

clinical simulations we completed helped me think critically during patient assessments/care and

how to keep my patients safe. I also learned skills to set up IV administrations, calculate IV

pushes, and various dosages for medication administration. During my sophomore year of

practicum, I remember wanting to have a buddy with me when caring for a patient. By my junior

semester, I felt confident and ready to manage more than one patient, and by junior two, we were

prepared to handle two to three patients.

Now that I am at the end of my clinical immersion, I am prepared to manage care for four

patients independently. I am completing immersion on the NSTU at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Immersion on the unit has introduced me to a wide range of patient cases, from various

neurology disorders to cardiac conditions and cancer. Each immersion experience has allowed

me to train with a registered nurse and utilize clinical judgment and time management. My
dietetic and clinical courses at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing have helped prepare

me and give me a solid foundation to start my career as a nurse. Including the Opioid Crisis &

Comprehensive Pain Management elective course I am taking this semester. The class has

enlightened me on pain management and the importance of patient pain management education.

During my immersion, I have utilized the skills and education learned as a BSMCON student.

After graduation and post the NCLEX, I will work as a Medical-Surgical Nurse for Bon Secours.

I am excited to start this new chapter of my life and join the Bon Secours family as an RN. I

know that the support, encouragement, education, and training that I have received as a student

of BSMCON have fully prepared me for my nursing career.