JUNIOR yEAR
... where do I begin. Junior year has been the most exciting and eventful year of my college career. I have learned more about myself and others around me than I ever thought imaginable. Beginning my Junior year, I was a little nervous. I had to manage working 20+ hours a week at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as a PCA along with focusing heavily on school. I knew that my grades were more critical than ever if I wanted to get accepted into Co-Op and International Clinical for the summer. I became more independent than ever this past year. I wasn’t in a relationship and I didn’t have much time to make it back home to visit my family, so it was just me figuring out me. BUT I MADE IT! I became very close with the management staff on my floor and they were very understanding about my school schedule and putting schoolwork first. I did struggle a little bit first semester with my OB rotation, but to be fair it was a completely different world for all of us. This was our first time being introduced to the baby world and the nursing care involved. My OB rotation at UCMC ended up being amazing, and I learned so much from our clinical instructor. It even made me realize that maybe sometime along the line I wouldn’t mind working in a Labor and Delivery unit. But no worries, my pediatric rotation was also indescribable, and affirmed my passion for wanting to work with children. Having worked at Cincinnati Children’s for almost 2 years now and having completed my pediatric clinical rotation there, I can truly say I have fallen in love with the atmosphere and all of the people there. I have found a family. Going into work is never a burden to me. I always wake up with a positive attitude and ambitious about my day ahead. I love my co-workers, the patients, and most of all the job.
With that being said, I couldn’t be more happy and proud to say that in March I found out (while on Spring Break in Florida) that I was accepted into Cincinnati Children’s Co-Op program and would be staying on the Neurology floor. This news alone was better than my entire Spring Break. I couldn’t stop smiling. Being accepted into Co-Op was a dream of mine since I decided to commit to UC’s nursing program. It was the main reason I chose to attend UC. It was the reason I stayed up till 2 am to study for exams. IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. I will never forget the phone call from HR offering me the position. I immediately started jumping around the room and was at a loss of words. All of my hard work had paid off and I was getting the opportunity to work as a nurse, under a preceptor, an entire year before being done with school. I no longer had to work as a nurse’s assistant; I would be working as the NURSE. I was not only ecstatic about getting accepted into Co-Op but also at the fact that I was going to be able to stay on the Neurology floor. I had grown to love my unit as a PCA, and developed and overwhelming passion for the Neurology patient population, especially with my sister having a neurodevelopmental disorder. This is exactly where I wanted to be in life. So how is it going you ask?! …ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I have learned more than I ever thought possible, advanced my skills tremendously, and realized that nursing is undoubtedly what I want to do for the rest of my life. My preceptor, Lauren, is the best role model I could ask for. I am not scared to ask her questions or turn to her for advice on how to do something. She is young and understands very well what school is like and the struggles that I go through on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the Co-Op experience and would recommend it to any nursing student. I have already gained so much knowledge and I still have a year left in the program!! (only a year… oh boy)
So many think that I may not have a life outside of the hospital… well actually I do and it is right across the street. I have spent a lot of my free time this past year volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House… I’m telling you I just can’t get enough of kids. Working the front desk at the Ronald McDonald House has been completely eye opening. This amazing place provides a “home away from home” feel to families who don’t have a choice but to base their lives around the hospital. It’s great getting to interact with the families in a different capacity than just in the hospital setting. I love getting to see the children so happy to be playing with others in the house, and families of all different cultures making connections with each other and sharing their stories. It is absolutely breath taking.
I have learned so much about my career and myself this past year and can’t wait to take it along with me into my last and final year at UC. Although I am ready to start my career as a nurse, I want this upcoming year to go as slow as possible. My undergraduate years have been the best of my life, and I am not near ready for them to be over. Throughout my senior year I hope to make connections with the underclassmen and hopefully serve as a great resource and mentor to them. I also hope to maintain a high GPA and graduate with honors (“graduate” ... yikes I am not ready to say that word yet). Foremost, I just plan to keep up with my schoolwork and enjoy my final year with all of the friends I have made at UC. This place truly has become my home. Although I am unsure where I see myself after graduation, I plan on taking my time to figure that out this year. I am more than ready to just go where life takes me.
My last and final exciting news that was the cherry on top to my junior year is that I also got accepted to International Clinical and will be leaving for Ecuador at the end of July!!! Experiences, stories, and a plethora of photos to come :)
With that being said, I couldn’t be more happy and proud to say that in March I found out (while on Spring Break in Florida) that I was accepted into Cincinnati Children’s Co-Op program and would be staying on the Neurology floor. This news alone was better than my entire Spring Break. I couldn’t stop smiling. Being accepted into Co-Op was a dream of mine since I decided to commit to UC’s nursing program. It was the main reason I chose to attend UC. It was the reason I stayed up till 2 am to study for exams. IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. I will never forget the phone call from HR offering me the position. I immediately started jumping around the room and was at a loss of words. All of my hard work had paid off and I was getting the opportunity to work as a nurse, under a preceptor, an entire year before being done with school. I no longer had to work as a nurse’s assistant; I would be working as the NURSE. I was not only ecstatic about getting accepted into Co-Op but also at the fact that I was going to be able to stay on the Neurology floor. I had grown to love my unit as a PCA, and developed and overwhelming passion for the Neurology patient population, especially with my sister having a neurodevelopmental disorder. This is exactly where I wanted to be in life. So how is it going you ask?! …ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I have learned more than I ever thought possible, advanced my skills tremendously, and realized that nursing is undoubtedly what I want to do for the rest of my life. My preceptor, Lauren, is the best role model I could ask for. I am not scared to ask her questions or turn to her for advice on how to do something. She is young and understands very well what school is like and the struggles that I go through on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the Co-Op experience and would recommend it to any nursing student. I have already gained so much knowledge and I still have a year left in the program!! (only a year… oh boy)
So many think that I may not have a life outside of the hospital… well actually I do and it is right across the street. I have spent a lot of my free time this past year volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House… I’m telling you I just can’t get enough of kids. Working the front desk at the Ronald McDonald House has been completely eye opening. This amazing place provides a “home away from home” feel to families who don’t have a choice but to base their lives around the hospital. It’s great getting to interact with the families in a different capacity than just in the hospital setting. I love getting to see the children so happy to be playing with others in the house, and families of all different cultures making connections with each other and sharing their stories. It is absolutely breath taking.
I have learned so much about my career and myself this past year and can’t wait to take it along with me into my last and final year at UC. Although I am ready to start my career as a nurse, I want this upcoming year to go as slow as possible. My undergraduate years have been the best of my life, and I am not near ready for them to be over. Throughout my senior year I hope to make connections with the underclassmen and hopefully serve as a great resource and mentor to them. I also hope to maintain a high GPA and graduate with honors (“graduate” ... yikes I am not ready to say that word yet). Foremost, I just plan to keep up with my schoolwork and enjoy my final year with all of the friends I have made at UC. This place truly has become my home. Although I am unsure where I see myself after graduation, I plan on taking my time to figure that out this year. I am more than ready to just go where life takes me.
My last and final exciting news that was the cherry on top to my junior year is that I also got accepted to International Clinical and will be leaving for Ecuador at the end of July!!! Experiences, stories, and a plethora of photos to come :)