What This Means to Me

     I am a new Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) rounding out my first year in this profession.  Nursing school is a wonderful, challenging experience that pushes you beyond your limits and forces you to grow and learn.  With that said, no amount of school or clinicals can truly prepare you for stepping out on the floor.

     I am a veteran so my ultimate goal is to work with the VA; however, since I am a full time student working toward becoming a Registered Nurse, I took a part time job with a retirement community for military officers.  Now, I know what you're thinking but this is not a nursing home.  This really is a "retirement community."  The residents live in either assisted living or independent living condos.  There are tons of amenities on site from a bank branch, a putting green, tennis courts, restaurants, etc.  As far as the healthcare aspect, the community provides primary care, urgent care, therapy and skilled nursing/ rehab services onsite. 

     I work on the skilled nursing/ rehab floor.  We take patients as they are discharged from the hospital but not well enough to return to independent living.  Our job is to get them to the point they are stable enough to return to their condos and continue happily living out their golden years. 

     Unfortunately, the first lesson I learned is, they don't always get better. So the ones that do are the ones that keep you going.   The impact each person you care for has on you is amazing.  I take great pride and derive much happiness from the small victories my patient's achieve and choke back silent tears while standing at the bedside with family members of the ones that aren't so lucky.

     This blog is my place to record some of the many lessons I learn day to day.  I'm focusing on the impact it has on me, mostly from psychological aspect.  I hope it can be helpful and informative especially for those of you who wish to become nurses or care givers in the future.   Thanks, in advance, for accompanying me on wonderfully scary journey.