Final Analysis

Over the course of my three years as a student at BSMCON, I have experienced

tremendous personal and professional growth. The classroom learning and hands-on clinical

exposure helped me develop the essential knowledge, skills, and mindset that will help me

kickstart successfully in the nursing field as a new graduate. Along with my academic pursuit, I

also gained invaluable professional experience, working as a nursing extern in the fast-paced

emergency department (ED) as well as a compassionate patient care technician on the

Progressive Care Unit. Actively engaging in my educational pursuits has also helped lay the

groundwork for my nursing practice. As I continue my journey into the nursing career, I am

confident that I am well-equipped to make a meaningful impact in the profession.

During my first year as a sophomore in the BSMCON BSN program, I was very nervous

and timid. It was a year filled with significant milestones as I completed a multiple demanding

courses that laid the crucial foundation of my nursing education. Among the courses I took, the

Nursing Competencies class proved to be the most difficult challenge I had my first year. Within

the course, I obtained fundamental nursing skills such as monitoring blood sugar levels,

administering baths, and assessing vitals signs. With the newfound knowledge and learned basic

nursing skills, my confidence steadily grew. This journey not only revealed my personal calling

to serve but also allowed me to develop therapeutic relationships with my patient which enabled

me to deliver comfort and care effectively. With the help of my nursing instructor, I was able to

provide autonomous care to my patient by applying all the nursing knowledge I gained in the

Nursing Competencies class, which made it the highlight of my first year.

As I progressed in my program, my second year proved to be the most challenging phase

of my nursing school journey. I was taking a challenging set of courses, which included Adult
Nursing I and II, Pathopharmacology I and II, Mental Health, Population and Global Health, and

Leadership and Business of Healthcare. Juggling these courses, along with my practicum course

and part-time job as a patient care tech, really tested my mental resilience, knowledge, and

determination to test as I pursued my goal of becoming a nurse. In the midst of my academic and

professional demands, my mental health course provided me with the necessary tools to practice

self-care and preserve my mental and emotional health, even in the midst of the challenging

curriculum I was taking. My mental health class emphasized the importance of mental health not

just for my patients but also for my personal well-being. By incorporating these self-care

practices into my routine early in my nursing career, I can establish a strong foundation for

maintaining my own well-being within the start of my nursing career.

In my final year, I was able to put into practice the knowledge and skills I gained while

studying at BSMCON. As part of my clinical immersion at Richmond Community Hospital I had

the opportunity to provide nursing care to a diverse patient population, including adults, children,

and older adults in the Emergency Department. Throughout my immersion, I’ve had the

privilege of being responsible for a full patient load, caring for four patients while working under

the guidance of a registered nurse. This experience no only allowed me to practice essential

nursing skills but also honed my ability to deliver patient-catered care to each individual case.

One particular moment during my clinical immersion occurred when a patient came in

complaining of chest pain. As we attended her, conducting lab tests and placing her on the

monitor, we recognized signs of a stroke. We administered the stroke scale, and her score was a

concerning 15. When the tele-neurologist wanted to conduct his own assessment, we advocated

for the patient’s well-being. The neurologist’s evaluation differed in ours and seemed much

lower on the scale, so my nurse spoke up about the patient’s cause, highlighting the worsening of
her symptoms. We finally, transported her to MRI. Throughout the day we could visually see the

progression of her symptoms, including difficulty with speech and comprehension. This

experience highlights the critical role nurses play at the patient’s bedside. I realize as nurses, we

need to advocate for our patient as we are the ones who can detect whether the patient’s

condition declined from their baseline compared to physicians who often have limited time for

each patient. This experience solidified my commitment to advocating for my patients and

ensuring they receive the highest quality of care.

As I embark on my nursing career, I am grateful to BSMCON for equipping me with

knowledge, skills, and a sense of compassion. I am dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong learning,

and I continue to always deliver patient care with the same commitment t quality, safety, and

compassion that BSMCON has taught me over the past three years.