On the Thrills of Nursing, Education and New Beginnings
May 27, 2021
It’s been 38 years since I earned my first nursing credential and I love nursing even more today than I ever thought I could.
I had always admired nurses. I had always been good at caring for people and had never been one to shy away from a challenge — or a lot of blood. I watched in awe as Major Margaret Houlihan and her team masterfully cared for patients on MASH, and longed to be just like Dixie McCall on Emergency, meticulously treating wounds and leaping up to help whenever needed.
But I never knew if I was strong enough to actually become a nurse myself. Nearly four decades into a successful nursing career that has spanned the hospital, the church and the classroom, it seems almost silly to say, but it’s the truth.
It was only with the support of my family that I believed in myself enough to apply to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse in 1983. I didn’t know it at the time, but that gentle nudge from my family would lead me where I am today — a former dean of a nursing school with three nursing degrees, multiple certifications, and an unquenchable thirst for new challenges, ready for my next new beginning.
My official clinical specialty is Emergency Nursing, just like Major Houlihan and Nurse McCall. I worked in a hospital and a freestanding emergency clinic while I finished my bachelor’s degree in nursing, then in a large Level 1 trauma center Emergency Department when I completed my BSN and passed my RN boards.
It was thrilling. I loved everything from treating wounds to determining the causes of ailments to interacting with patients and their families. Every day was full of new and different challenges. Every day was full of new opportunities to learn and grow. And there was nothing more rewarding than heading home after a long shift knowing I had helped save a life that day.
As much as I love the thrill of the Emergency Department, I love education even more. I love the life-long learning commitment inherent in professional nursing practice. I love learning, and I love teaching. It was no surprise then that for my next step, I pursued my perfect graduate degree—a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in Emergency Nursing Education. The best of both my professional worlds met in this degree!
I eventually completed my PhD in Nursing Science, which contributed to my quarter-century career in academia. Getting this advanced degree was a good decision, and a good move.
I have accomplished a great deal during my 12 years of clinical nursing, receiving multiple certifications demonstrating my expertise in emergency nursing, cardiac care, and trauma care. I also planned and implemented community health programs based in faith communities and started my publishing and speaking journey through that avenue.
As an academic, I had other achievements, including promotions in academic and administrative ranks. During 20 of the 26 years I held an administrative position in addition to the faculty role. In fact, in my immediate past position I held the title(s) of Dean and Professor for nearly eight years. In the academic faculty world, it doesn’t get much better than that! I also achieved two certifications — Certified Nurse Educator and most recently, Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. I have done everything in academia that I planned, and I achieved my career goals.
I have had so many opportunities through the years, and done things I never thought I could or would ever do. But I found my inner confidence and competence and I pushed on. As I said in the beginning, I have been lucky these 38 years to be a nurse!. I have held different types of jobs, which seem like complete career changes, while at the same time proudly claiming my nursing focus. Nursing is great!
Now is the time to leave fulltime academia. But I could never — will never — leave nursing.
I still love the thrill of the unknown nature of day-to-day experiences in the ED, and of having to find within myself the confidence and competence to meet each next new challenge, especially when I am not sure what the next new challenge will be. My love for the thrill of the unknown and the resulting self -evaluation and self-motivation serve me well and I celebrate those qualities as I accomplish daily work life.
Now, like so many other things in life, I’ve come to realize that not only was I always meant to be a nurse, but every single step along my path has been the exact right step for me at the time.
So is this one. Stay tuned.