The movie NURSES If Florence Could See Us Now was an eye opening experience to see and reflect on what it means to be a nurse. There were common things such as compassion, innovation, the honor of being there for patients and their loved ones in their most vulnerable moments that really resonated with me. There was a quote in the movie that talked about how nurses are at the forefront of human suffering and it really made me stop and think of how true that is. It also made me self-aware of how many things I’ve witnessed and heard during my clinicals that normal people would not have been able to experience. Our norm as healthcare professionals is truly such a completely different world from those who aren’t in this profession. A population in the movie I normally don’t hear about are Native Americans in reservations. I truthfully have never had too much awareness of how they would access western medicine, in conjunction with their cultural beliefs. It was amazing to see how home health nurses had to drive distances, often hours through snow, mud, and just terrain that would be difficult for anyone to travel through, just to reach out to these communities that need medical help. I wish I had more education on how other cultures/ religions deal with illnesses, so that I am better equipped to care for them in a culturally sensitive way.
In thinking about approaching transition from being a nursing student to being a nurse, it is important that I foster my own sets of values, beliefs and strengths that I can bring forward when it comes to interviewing for a job. I believe knowing what I want, at least generally, can help me align myself into a position that would suit me the best. The process of both my resume and cover letters are never going to be set in stone as I progress throughout my career. I need to be on top of new skills that I gained and experiences that I can highlight to make myself stand out more. Practice makes perfect in the case of actually interviewing. It is sometimes difficult to discern what accomplishments I have actually achieved throughout my years at UNE. However, recognizing my experience during clinicals, involvement in SNA and my job as a phlebotomist can help show future employers that I am capable of succeeding within their team. I am certainly not perfect, nor do I know everything, so having humility to accept and acknowledge my shortcomings is the first step to improving. Recognizing what I need to work on can help me plan for what I can do to improve those challenges. Since I am just starting out as a new grad nurse, I want to be able to show my best foot forward, while showcasing my eagerness to grow.
