Your ‘reason’ matters as a nursing student

When I was a freshman nursing student, I wished I had an older, wiser nursing student to tell me what school is really like and what to anticipate along the way. I wished I had someone to give me tips and let me know the teachers were not kidding when they said you cannot start studying the night before a test (like I always had in high school). With this blog, I am here to do just that. As Nurse.com's student blogger, I am going to share tips about studying, internships and clinicals, just to name a few topics. I also am going to offer insight into personal experiences I've had while making my way through nursing school. My name is Kristen. I am a senior nursing student at Molloy College in New York. My years as a nursing student have been filled with gratifying and enjoyable experiences, along with some difficult and trying times. As nursing students, we are resilient and always persevere. We work hard to reach our goals and to overcome any obstacles we might encounter. Most of us have reasons why we push through. I think we all have a reason why we study all weekend and do not have much of a social life at times. My reason is one of my best friends, Loren. We met in second grade and remained friends throughout grammar school and high school. Her life changed forever when she was a freshman in college. She was living her life, going out and having fun, just like any freshman. That is, until she was diagnosed with leukemia. She fought as hard as she could for as long as she could. She passed away three short months later. She told me the nurses who cared for her sometimes gave her "an attitude" when she didn't feel like cooperating and that they did not always talk to her in a way she understood. I knew from that moment on I would become an oncology nurse. I knew I would become the nurse I wish my friend could have had during her illness. I want to be a source of comfort and understanding for all the patients and loved ones I hope to encounter throughout my future career as a nurse. Please do not be shy about sharing what motivates you to become a nurse. I would love to hear your thoughts or concerns about nursing school so I can help answer questions and guide you along your nursing school path.