Pictured above: (left to right) Marlo Borton geared up for 'COVID Alley"; Borton taking a break outside her 2021 capstone clinical site.
.When I first started my capstone, I was nervous about being back in the hospital setting. It had been a long time since we were in the hospital due to COVID. But the support that I received from my preceptor and the staff in the ICU made me feel like I could accomplish anything.
Growing Confidence
The interest and investment that I put into my learning during my practicum at a hospital in Wyoming was mirrored back to me from the staff. I was involved in patient care from day one, performing head-to-toe assessments, hanging medications, and interprofessional communication started to become second nature. At this medical center, the ICU is also responsible for monitoring telemetry patients, so I have developed a good understanding of cardiac rhythms. While at my capstone, I have provided care to patients with hypokalemia, sepsis, COVID, liver failure, DTV, stroke, etc. Having the opportunity to pull, administer, and educate the patients on medications has also significantly improved my pharmacology knowledge. Due to the patient’s acuity, I have also gained some great experience working with different oxygenation methods and ART lines. However, the skill that I have seen grow the most during my capstone is my confidence as a student nurse and future RN.
Growing Exponentially
Seeing firsthand the conditions learned in class has helped further my understanding of the disease processes and their labs. Having a great preceptor to discuss the cases also progressed my critical thinking. As a visual person learning this information solely online and from a textbook can be challenging, so being in the hospital has allowed me to grow exponentially. Thanks to the relationship between the ICU and ED I have also been able to hop into the ED to give IVs and see anything interesting coming in.
Grateful
I could not have asked for a better group of people to help me grow in my skills and confidence as a future nurse. The time that I spent at this clinical placement will be one that I will never forget and will be forever grateful for.
Story placed: 4/9/2021