Being a nurse educator is a role full of excitement and expectations. Guiding a group of students through the healthcare system for the first time is a unique experience I find deeply fulfilling. I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to educate and train nursing students since 2012, and I’ve been educating and training medical and nursing assistants in Georgia in recent years. On the meet and greet days, their eyes gaze intently around the room and hold on to every word we say. You can tell they are happy, nervous, and uncertain about the unknown. They have so many questions and get ahead of themselves many times. There are many reasons why I love those first days.
Whenever a new group of students arrives, I want to learn their names and connect to them immediately. As the days pass by and they get deeper into the program, I want to identify their strengths, weaknesses, goals, information, and experiences they may need and how I can help them succeed even after they become certified. It is a joy to see how their confidence and performance improve daily. My thoughts are always: “If by the end of the program, I feel comfortable knowing that one day I will be under your care, then I have been successful.”
For the first time in all these years as an educator, I had the privilege to experience the whole cycle. Last week, I had to visit the ER at Northside Hospital Gwinnett. The headaches I’ve been experiencing became more annoying and disturbing as new symptoms started to show. I was taken inside one of the observation rooms when I heard someone say, “Is that my Gladys?” I opened my eyes, and there she was. One of my former coworkers at Northside Gwinnett Extended Care Center (NGECC), beautiful Leticia, was rushing over to my rescue. What a lovely moment that was! You see, Leticia was not a nurse when we worked together at NGECC, but we would talk often, and I would hear of her dream of becoming a nurse one day. Seeing her there brought so many emotions to my heart. We hugged. We laughed… and I cried. I cried because I knew I would be in my dear friend’s capable hands. She drew my blood and knew what my symptoms meant. Listening to her verbalize the situation to another nurse, give instructions and lead the way was fantastic. I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort and reassurance.
I was sent back to the lobby, waiting to be called for additional tests, when I heard my name again. I rushed to meet the patient care technician who was calling me when she said, “Do you know who I am?” She then lowered the mask, and there she was, a former nursing assistant student. She showed me the way, gave me instructions, and brought a warm blanket, making me feel more comfortable. What a beautiful feeling to know you will be cared for properly, especially by someone you’ve trained and mentored.
Thinking back on the events of that day, I can say I was blessed and privileged to see how the full cycle unfolds by being the recipient of the kind of care I teach my students to offer. This experience has deepened my understanding of the impact of quality care on a patient’s perspective. It has reinforced my belief in the importance of empathy, competence, and professionalism in nursing. I am blessed indeed.
