Do you see the above picture as a sunset or a dawn...well, in this instance it represents the end of studenthood and the dawning of a new era in my (and perhaps your) career - and life.
Two weeks in and many presentations later I am now on a two week short days stint, working with another member of staff on all the shifts. I have had so much information thrown at me over the last 2 weeks, now it is time to try and assimilate it and, slowly shift by shift, apply it as circumstances require.
By this I mean...what to do if a patient's vital signs dramatically, or gradually change. How to respond to a cardiac arrest. What to do when a patient passes away on the ward and many other challenges to meet and conquer. Or perhaps, how to handle an agressive patient or a wandering patient with dementia who is convinced he needs to leave the ward, find the nearest bus stop and go home...even though he hasn't lived at his home address for several years. Yes, nursing is a long list of paperwork and policies to abide by - remember if it isn't written down it hasn't happened.
Now, confidence. I love the saying 'fake it 'till you make it' and I think it applies perfectly to my situation. Now I DON'T mean fake my knowledge resulting in unsafe practice, that would never do. I do mean, however, portraying a self possessed and confident manner even when unsure of what to do. One thing I've noticed I have which I think robs me of confidence when I hear it; my voice gets very high pitched and faint when I am nervous which I don't think inspires much confidence. So for the next 4 shifts this week I will concentrate on finding my confidence, meaning even when I feel my nerves and uncertainty welling up inside me I will take a moment to choose to respond to the situation in a calm and measured way, most importantly check that my voice remains grounded. If this lady can do it, so can I.
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