Post-Graduation: The Journey Continues
It has been a year and a half since I received the happy news that I had passed my licensing exam. I'm not sure who was more excited, me or my partner! I have been very busy working as a nurse with what seems like barely a moment to breath at times. I have done a fair amount of that work in long term care, but am moving more and more towards community nursing. I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings with different teams of people, and different care needs among the patients I work with.
I feel that starting out work as a CCA during my schooling was invaluable, as it allowed me to see more aspects of patient care and team work. And then to begin to work with those same patients as an LPN was equally important, because I already knew them so well.
I have learned some of my strengths and interests in this time, and am beginning to get a stronger idea of what direction I want to take. I also had the opportunity to work as a CCA while still in school for home care in Antigonish, and this gave me a really strong foundation for community nursing. I have now been helping out with Continuing Care as an LPN for nearly a year, and find myself drawing on that original experience again and again.
I love the community care setting, and am comfortable working independently, and managing my schedule, while taking care of patients' needs. I find the increased need for good assessment skills a welcome challenge, and have had many opportunities to put those skills to use.
I am working towards learning more about stroke rehab, and wound care. We do a great deal of wound care in community nursing, mostly for post-op patients, and many of these cases can be very challenging, and often unique. I would also like to learn more about working with patients with mental health issues, and am working towards this goal as well.
One of my other passions has always been palliative care, and I have also had a number of opportunities to serve in this area. It is a setting that I am absolutely comfortable with, and feel honored that I have been able to be present in families lives at this stage of care.
I continually look for opportunities to learn more, and attend talks, seminars and tele-health sessions whenever they present.
I feel that starting out work as a CCA during my schooling was invaluable, as it allowed me to see more aspects of patient care and team work. And then to begin to work with those same patients as an LPN was equally important, because I already knew them so well.
I have learned some of my strengths and interests in this time, and am beginning to get a stronger idea of what direction I want to take. I also had the opportunity to work as a CCA while still in school for home care in Antigonish, and this gave me a really strong foundation for community nursing. I have now been helping out with Continuing Care as an LPN for nearly a year, and find myself drawing on that original experience again and again.
I love the community care setting, and am comfortable working independently, and managing my schedule, while taking care of patients' needs. I find the increased need for good assessment skills a welcome challenge, and have had many opportunities to put those skills to use.
I am working towards learning more about stroke rehab, and wound care. We do a great deal of wound care in community nursing, mostly for post-op patients, and many of these cases can be very challenging, and often unique. I would also like to learn more about working with patients with mental health issues, and am working towards this goal as well.
One of my other passions has always been palliative care, and I have also had a number of opportunities to serve in this area. It is a setting that I am absolutely comfortable with, and feel honored that I have been able to be present in families lives at this stage of care.
I continually look for opportunities to learn more, and attend talks, seminars and tele-health sessions whenever they present.
