.was in a Wyoming hospital as a float student nurse. It has been an awesome being able to be a float nurse, as I have gone from working in the ICU to OB to Med Surg all in the same shift. This provides for a fast-paced environment with an extremely wide range of patient care.
Critical access hospital
Being at a critical access hospital has provided me with the opportunity of helping a wide array of patients while in a rural setting. Due to the size of the hospital, the census is constantly changing, and we float to whatever floor needs help the most. This has provided for some very interesting days that involve changing floors on the fly and having to change mindsets as well. It has been challenging, but also very rewarding—truly an experience I will never forget.
How helpful everyone has been
From my preceptor to the other nurses and CNAs, everyone at the hospital has been extremely accepting of me and is always teaching me or allowing me to practice skills with patients. Having everyone embrace you with open arms has been awesome and extremely helpful throughout the whole experience. I was scared of nurses “eating their young” that I had always heard about, but as I arrived to clinical I found it to be the complete opposite. I have even been nicknamed “squirt” by the nurses here, and they even got me the shirt I’m wearing in the picture. They are great mentors and I am extremely grateful for all of them. They make the work environment very enjoyable.
Overall
Going in I was extremely nervous and had no idea what to expect. I also had no clue what it would feel like to work full 12-hour shifts for a whole week. But, from the first day it has been incredible. Capstone has really helped me use all of the information I have learned and apply it to real patients on the floor. I have been able to refine my skills, improve my critical thinking, and start to feel like a nurse.
Story placed: 4/9/2021