Sara Whitley

Final Analysis

During my time at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing, I have expanded my skills to

include more than just abilities within the scope of nursing, but to include valuable skills that I

will carry with me throughout every aspect of my life and career. During my beginning at the

college I was introduced to the fundamentals of nursing and was taught the basic principles of

servant leadership. I was taught the importance of reflection and even delved into the concept

of discovering my own personal philosophy. I was able to obtain personal growth through my

earlier courses which I have carried with me through my journey as a nursing student. I have

made lasting friendships and learned a multitude of lessons from a variety of teaching styles

from the professors I have been blessed with.

I have had so many opportunities to practice skills from learning to use an IV pump to

inserting catheters. Some of the most fundamental skills of nursing like critical thinking and

quality communication were built through my nursing competencies courses. My instructors

have pushed me to strive for excellence while also instilling the concept that self-care is of

utmost importance in school as much as it will out of. Another one of the highlights of my time

at the college was learning more about how to care for vulnerable populations. I spent time at

Bon Secours Care-A-Van during my Senior 1 semester and it absolutely opened my eyes to

healthcare crises occurring within our own community. It has expanded my empathy and drive

for serving those less fortunate.

 My professors in my Adult Nursing Science practicums sought out great experiences for me to

obtain during clinicals. I feel confident in my abilities to communicate, assess, and provide

medication to my patients. I know I can still experience growth in those areas throughout my

career as a nurse, but I feel these courses have adequately prepared me for the real world.

During my pediatric and obstetric rotations I gained knowledge of these subjects as well as

developed a passion for obstetrics that I had not foreseen. During my practicum experiences for

these courses I observed the vulnerability of these populations.

I have been given the opportunity to grow as a student nurse during my clinical immersion

experience. During my hours on the labor and delivery unit I learned how to advocate for my

patient’s as well as advocate for my own learning. I witnessed the beauty of birth and all the

hard work a patient endures leading up to delivery. I held patient’s hands during difficult

moments when their delivery started to make a turn for the worse. I was able to assist in giving

medications that I have never given since they are usually only used on this unit. During this

time I was able to witness the craziness that a nurse’s day can involve and I learned how

important time management is and I worked on developing a schedule to help me manage my

day. Communication was another area I was able to gain more knowledge in. I worked with a

variety of patient backgrounds which would make communicating difficult, but I found ways to

make sure my patient was able to understand and feel comfortable.

During my final semester of this program I learned the value in group work and how it is of

utmost importance to be a good team player. As a nurse I know I will need to work with a care

team so this is only preparing me in ways I never knew possible. I have faced many challenges,

but now I am able to reflect on those moments and see how much I have grown from them. I
know as a graduate I will face new challenges, but they will help shape me into a great nurse. I

am most definitely nervous to embark on this new journey into the world as a new graduate,

but I feel prepared. I know I still have areas of improvement to focus on; especially related to

skills, but I know with practice I will begin to feel more competent.

As I begin a transition into my nursing career, I know I will use all of the knowledge and skills I

have acquired over the past three years. However, nursing school did more than just prepare

me for the world of nursing, but it has transformed me into a well-rounded, open-minded

individual. I have been given the opportunity to experience much more than just the basics of

nursing, but also to develop a new attitude towards how to approach many aspects of life. I

look forward to serving others throughout this new chapter in my life.