For your viewing pleasure
Posted Sunday, June 3, 2007 2:41 PM

At long last, here's a link to some of the photos from our Haiti adventure. Click the following link to see Meghan's top 277 photo picks...  and remember that these are just a fraction of the photos we took!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mebodkin/MeghanSTop277PhotosFromHAITI

*****

Day 6, Holistic Care
Posted Sunday, June 3, 2007 2:35 PM

We had an early start this morning in an attempt to stretch out our last full day in this incredible country. Uncle Marion, our host’s uncle, led us on an herbal walk. At age 81, he is quite the character and can identify the “miracle” plants that cure anything from kidney stones or prostate cancer to upset stomach or worms. Two of the students ordered and received special teas for their respective ailments – we have our fingers crossed for them!

Today, we walked much of Jeremie as we made final trips to many of the sites of our week’s work. We spent our morning huffing and puffing up the mountainous terrain to the Missionaries of Charity where we did health education to about 40 children. Jessa, the germ, wowed the children as she danced around to explain where germs live and how washing hands, covering for coughs, and brushing teeth will help keep germs away. A giant soap, giant toothbrush, and a giant hand whisked the big germ away. This health lesson was quite the spectacle, but as the Sisters do not allow photos to be taken inside the compound, our descriptions will have to suffice. Just imagine Jessa with Groucho Marx glasses and a hot pink feather boa – wouldn’t you be afraid of “germs” too?? Teaching through song reiterated the message and the children enjoyed playing decorating ‘healthy teeth’ with stickers and crayons.

Afterwards, we crossed the breezeway to the men’s side of Missionaries of Charity. These men live at the complex for hospice care.  Patients include both the old and the young -- from diabetic amputees to cachectic and frail victims of unknown maladies. We spent our time massaging their sore muscles and tired bodies. Often, it felt as though we were simply rubbing their bare bones. As we made our way down the rows of metal beds, the men began to line up for their massage. Those who are well enough to sit outside came in and lay down, awaiting their turn with the nursing students. It was an act of the most basic nursing care and reminded us of the sheer power of human touch. The men showed their appreciation through their smiles, their relaxation, and the light in their eyes.

Making our way across the street to the women’s hospice care center, our patients were no less grateful. The women had heard that we were at the Missionaries of Charity compound before our arrival, and the ones who are able waited for on the porch benches. What started out as hand massages for the women turned into full body rubs, as each directed our attention to other weary body parts that needed massaging – feet, temples, backs, and even bellies. When they had finished with their massages, the women went inside for a craft activity. We had brought along colorful plastic beads, and giggles filled the room as the women made bracelets for themselves and for their bedridden fellow patients. To have something extraneous, something out of the ordinary, and something of beauty – this was extraordinary for them. Once again, the power of touch and individual attention proved amazing.

Working at the Missionaries of Charity was the perfect way to end our week in Haiti. Providing holistic, basic care was exactly what the patients – and we – needed. There’s a lot to be said for medical advances, for expensive drugs and technology. But in an area like Jeremie, where much medical care as we know it just isn’t available, a return to basic, low-technology nursing proved quite effective. The activity was intensely moving for both patient and student nurse. If the experience alone wasn’t enough, the Mother Superior at the Missionaries of Charity of Jeremie gave each of us a medal to express her gratitude. They are small medals of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, which have been touched to her tomb in Italy, making them very special for believers. “Blessed” is the first step to sainthood in the Catholic Church.

After our last meal at Place Charmont (a very un-Haitian dish of pizza, complete with ketchup sauce), we went out on the town with our translators, FanFan and Moondi. Even our fearless instructor Beth, who had been laid up since Thursday after a “spectacular” fall down the rained-on steps of the dining area, trekked down the mountain in the dark to “Oasis,” where we enjoyed a few last (cold!) Prestige beers and danced in the dark bamboo-curtained club.

Early the next morning, we loaded up our bags and headed back out of town. Our luggage was much easier to manage this time, as much of what we had brought was donations to leave in Haiti. Arriving at the airport, we waited for about an hour for our puddle-jumper plane to come, and then we took off from the dirt runway and were gone. The plane ride allowed us a few last spectacular views of Jeremie’s beautiful landscape -- an incredible end to an incredible week. Though our trip was short, it made quite an impression on all of us. We learned so much about public health nursing, about cultural competency, about humility and humanism. Even after returning to Baltimore and resuming our usual activities, a part of all of us remains in Jeremie.

***** 

Day 5, Plan C
Posted Thursday, May 10, 2007 11:51 PM

They say the hardest part about public health nursing is getting to the patient. Case in point: today we just couldn’t get there. We had planned to cross the Grand Anse, the river that shares the name of this region, to conduct our final adolescent health fair. Mother Nature had other plans. The rain that fell throughout the night caused the river to rise too high for our snorkel truck to cross. Clad in our classic white and blue uniforms, we dispersed out across the muddy, rocky, pot-holed “roads” of Jeremie.

Team 1: Out to downtown Jeremie to the Aka-1000 mill to see how protein enriched flour is made which is distributed by The Haitian Health Foundation to combat malnutrition in women and children.

Team 2: Hopped in the back of a van with Sister Sophie, a nurse midwife from India, to provide prenatal care in a mountain village. Oddly, they crossed the Grand Anse using a bridge. They screened mothers using a high-tech portable sonogram and a tape measure.

Team 3: Who says there’s no “I” in team? Our lone ranger braved the language barrier with an “English translator” to a village heath post where local midwives convened for their monthly educational session reviewing postpartum danger signs and contents of birthing kits provided to them containing clean razors, gloves and other various supplies necessary to ensure a safe birth.

After our tasty lunch of granola bars and trail mix, we reconvened in the afternoon to observe primary and prenatal care in various settings.  At the Center of Hope, directed by a German national, prenatal care was facilitated by Haitian and Cuban physicians and nurses and students assisted with counting fetal heart rates and measuring gestational age with a measuring tape. Meanwhile, across town at HHF, patients, dressed in Sunday’s best, braved the heat and their own discomfort, to seek care. Patients waited in the halls to be seen with a range of ailments such as toothaches, malaria, gastric pains, STDs, arthritis and hypertension. Health care concerns prevalent in the United States were echoed with Haitian care providers such as patient adherence, availability of medicine and concern for the price of receiving treatment.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

As hard as it is to get around Haiti, everyone manages to get here.  From India, Cuba, Germany, Canada and our very own charm city. Practice in global health nursing presents itself with barriers related to culture, language and training.  Our time in Haiti has demonstrated that passion for providing care transcends political, economic and language obstacles. Somehow, we all understand each other sharing laughs and hiccups in translation working to empower a community.

***** 

Day 4, We are lovin Haiti more...
Posted Thursday, May 10, 2007 8:23 AM 

Waking up this morning at the top of the hill overlooking Jeremie the skies were dark and it was quieter than usual, even less humid, and even a little chilly? Running up the mountain, the roads, so filled with pot holes that the pot holes have pot holes that the ruts are roads unto themselves and the footpaths wind their way through the road. The roads were strangely clear today, everyone preparing for impending rain. After our breakfast among the flowers and trees at the top of the mountain we pile into the old school land rover and head down the mountain for whatever adventures Haiti brings today. We get dropped off at the Center of Hope, a maternal waiting home and treatment center for children with Kwashiorkor’s (a malnutrition disease when children don’t get enough protein). The maternal mortality statistics in Haiti are staggering (1 in 17 women) so the Center of Hope is one more way to try to help bring these statistics down. At the Center of Hope after a tour and orientation to the center we split into two groups – half of us going to the pediatric health education and vaccination area and half of us working with the amazing nurses (and one doctor) who were doing post partum and some pre natal visits. Though the nurses we were working with are “only” LPNs, they do some amazing work assessing diagnosing and educating the patients. I think all of us are struck here by the possibilities of the nursing role that we have seen. The nurses in the health education and vaccination center were equally adept in their work riling up the crowd of over 50 women and their children who show up for education according to age for nutrition and baby care. We all feel pretty confident in our abilities at administering vitamin A, oral polio and DPT to squirming babies under the tutelage of the Haitian nurses. We also had the unique experience of meeting some doctors from Cuba who are part of the Cuban government’s outreach to other countries. They are in Haiti, as they are in other countries around the world, giving medical care, aiding health institutions and training local doctors. The Cuban doctor who spoke with us was amazingly humble in her expression of her work and her desire, the goal of the entire outreach effort, to work in a culturally appropriate way that would aid Haitians to be able to meet their own health needs without outside assistance. Humility was in fact the theme of the day – after getting stuck in a phenomenal rain storm that only lasted for a bit, we went to visit Eve Rose. As we arrived at her house we tromped up the steps to be met by little children, many many little children, who kissed our hands and wished us Bon Soir. Eve Rose runs, far beyond an orphanage, a home for children, a spot of grace. She has 75 children of all ages who are clean and healthy orphans, those who no one else wanted, but Eve Rose’s heart envelopes them all and the sense of pervading calm and kindness is profound. We played with the children, we toured their home; we held them, took pictures of them and then in a surreal moment that can only happen in Haiti, only in Jeremie, the children assembled their band of discarded instruments and played. From what was discarded something beautiful emerged and in the shining faces of the children playing and the littler ones clapping, it was hard to believe that this was not a family … somehow of 75. After clapping and cheering we felt obliged to return some bit of entertainment and led the troop back down to their courtyard playground of cinders. We sang our new favorite health song (Bon Sante – Good Health – sung to the tune of Father Abraham with crazy actions … it’s a long story). Every single face broke into a smile as we danced together and sang together; taking turns one American song for one Haitian - a cultural exchange, a human exchange transcending our lack of Creole. The culminating moment was when the children sang an American hymn about lifting up the name of the Lord – the spirituality that Eve Rose professes evident in the way the children help each other little paired with big and vocalized in both Creole English to not a dry eye in the humble courtyard. Humbled we could only say thank you and after hugs and kisses and pictures and writing down the words to songs we knew to add to the impressive repertoire the kids already know. Humbled we are seeing in Haiti immense need tempered by immense kindness – from the malnourished child who offers us a seat, to the nurses who wade to meet us in the middle of the linguistic divide, to the people who open their homes and hearts to us, to the Cuban doctors who are giving free service to a people not their own, to our host who has made this her life’s work, to Eve Rose whose family numbers over 400 orphaned children finding a home in hers and grows with child she plucks from the street and each heart that is touched by her family. Humbled, every one of us would be happy to not get back on the plane on Saturday for at least few more days in Haiti to offer whatever help we might be able to offer, and yet humbled to know that it wouldn’t be enough, but that it would be accepted as if it were.

***** 

Day 3, Do you miss us yet?
Posted Tuesday, May 8, 2007 9:53 PM

We have experienced more in our first six hours today than most people in America experience in a lifetime. The day began with traditional Haitian pumpkin soup, and then we took a land rover down the bumpy mountain to the Haitian Health Foundation, where we were introduced to the KOMBIT program. This specific model of intervention is the only one of its kind. However, it is not widely implemented, despite great results, due to its expense. The health workers from KOMBIT showed us an entertaining and informative skit, including a ‘pregnant’ man and hand-stitched uterus and baby, courtesy of our very own Sara Groves.

Afterwards, we got to experience downtown Jeremie for the first time. The market was a sensory roller-coaster, complete with smells of drying fish, flies swarming raw meat, and fruits of every color being sold from every available ground space. Our pictures will soon follow…

The next event was visiting the Missionaries of Charity orphanage and hospice.  The children in the center are not all orphans – many actually have parents but their parents are unable to care for them. The sisters there only take in the sickest children and so the children we saw were severely malnourished and the evidence of kwashiorkor and marasmus were all around us. This was definitely one of the most heart-wrenching experiences so far. It was extremely hard not to cry in front of the children as we rocked the babies or played with the toddlers. Thankfully, we get one more opportunity to work with the children and the hospice this Friday when we come back and do our health education.

One of the last amazing sites of the day was the weekly ferry boat that transports hundreds of Haitians from Jeremie to Port-au-Prince. The boat should only really hold about 300 people to be safe, but today it was packed to the brim with about 800 people, livestock, and produce. Sometimes people will even row out as the boat is leaving and climb on as the boat is sailing away.

More to follow…Stay tuned!

- Team Haiti Twa (3 in Creole)

Sanibonani!
Posted Monday, June 26, 2006 4:51 PM

Sanibonani is the plural form of Hello in Zulu. This is my first blog entry on this or any site, and I have a lot to say about my experiences as a student at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. I have to start with my most special experience here. Well, the experience wasn’t really here, but the result of being a student here. I was selected to participate in the MIRT (Minority International Research Training) Program, which provides training experiences abroad to students interested in minority-focused research. This program is funded by NIH and has affiliations with universities and research institutions in Australia, South Korea, Israel, England, Sweden, and South Africa. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in research at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN) in Durban, South Africa! I’ve always wanted to go to The Continent, and to go there for such a lengthy stay (3 months) and as a part of a special cause made the experience even better than I expected.

My research there was focused on developing communications against adolescent substance use and abuse. My specific role was to develop focus group guides for health workers in the communities so that researchers at UKZN would have input directly from the target audience, allowing them to create the most effective campaign possible. I’ve been working on different research projects at Hopkins since 2002, so I had some experience, but doing research in an unfamiliar culture required many skills that I had not yet learned. I’ve always enjoyed learning about new things, and the faculty and staff at UKZN provided extensive learning opportunities on and off campus. I was able to travel to Johannesburg to meet with the Director of Research and Development at Soul City Communications. Soul City uses research to develop literature, television shows, and radio broadcasts with the goal of promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyles. I observed UKZN’s undergraduate community health nursing students plan and implement impressive community health interventions in Durban communities. I attended the 2nd South African AIDS conference in Durban during my very first week there. The list of awesome educational experiences goes on and on.

In addition to the research experiences, I greatly enjoyed being immersed in African culture. I was there with 2 other Hopkins students and we made friends with several Zulus and Xhosas who showed us around and allowed us to experience Africa in a way that tourists wouldn’t. We went to cookouts, parties, concerts, malls, the beach, family dinners, and just hung out. Being in South Africa was an experience I’ll never forget! In fact, at the end of my trip my boyfriend came to visit. We went to Cape Town, Zimbabwe, and Zambia - and he proposed to me at Victoria Falls in Zambia!! I’m so glad that Hopkins provided this African experience.

I have a really busy summer ahead of me. One of the faculty at UKZN forwarded me a Call for Abstracts for the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Conference in Durban. I wrote an abstract, with help from my friend Safiya, Cultural Competency in Nursing Education to Facilitate Effective Healthcare , and it was accepted! I’ll be going back to Africa in early August to present this work. Once again, JHUSON is supporting my travel and my interest in research! I’ll even get a course credit for developing the presentation. I took a course this past spring, Communication Strategies for Health Education and Health Promotion, and the Professor is helping me to incorporate the relevant strategies from that course. I can’t wait to go back to Durban!

As soon as I get back from South Africa I’ll go straight to Florida for the National Black Nurses Association’s annual conference. I am presenting there too. This presentation, Breastfeeding to Reduce Health Disparities from the Cradle to the Grave, is the result of my work on an NIH-funded research study to support low-income breastfeeding. During the training for my position on the Breastfeeding Support Team I learned about all of the amazing benefits of breastfeeding. For example, research shows that breastfed babies are less likely to become obese, have less incidences of diabetes, lower rates of hypertension, and lower rates of asthma - to name only a very few benefits. I realized that these were some of the same diseases that disproportionately affect the African-American community. So, if more people breastfeed there will be better health outcomes across the lifespan. While I’m at the conference I’ll be promoting JHUSON and recruiting potential students since Hopkins values diversity and the different perspectives people bring from various backgrounds.

Okay, I didn’t mean to write so much for my first entry, but I’ve had so many great experiences during my Masters program! Next time I want to discuss the classes I’m taking this summer and the activities included in their requirements. I also want to talk about my two new jobs. I’ve been a Nurse for almost 7 years now and I keep discovering new and exciting roles and opportunities. This profession provides so many options and they are all very rewarding. I look forward to sharing more of my experiences soon. Take Care!

Why Nursing?
Originally Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:51 PM

Hello Friends,

It has been a very busy couple of months and now that the Medical Surgical clinical rotation is over we are moving into the next rotation, (Pediatrics). We have been immersed in the JHUSON relentless academic marathon and in a few short months (4), the student journey ends and a new path is blazed as new nursing grads, and licensure examinations. Personally, the nursing school experience has been quite the adventure, yet rewarding on many levels. Another student asked me the other day if I would go through nursing school again, my first reaction to her inquiry was to question her on the type of medications she was taking and if any adverse side effects such as, “delirium” was being experienced.

I compare the nursing school experience to military boot camp or similar academy/educational type programs. This process is demanding, emotionally, physically and mentally and you ONLY want to live through it once. The experience at times, feels as though you JUST cannot do one more push-up, run one more mile, take one more exam or write one more care plan. Then a remarkable thing happens, you find the inner strength to push through the challenge and propel yourself forward with the confidence that you persevered and gave it your very best. I believe that perseverance and resilience is what propels us forward and strengthens us during times of difficulty. It is only through personal or a professional challenge that one is pruned, tuned, strengthened wisdom is gained, regardless of previous historical successes. Pushing through nursing school whether the timeline is 14 months, 21 months or three years requires heart, determination, resilience, faith and intelligence not to mention the undeniable belief in the purpose of your journey.

I have traveled the world as a member of the armed forces, worked in situations that would probably have shocked the faint of heart and have been in the right place at the right time to make a difference in the lives of others.   I have held numerous positions of leadership throughout my careers and worked long hours in critical incidents that I cannot even begin to accurately capture through this blog.  I have treasured those experiences, valued the memories and nurtured the friendships through the years. I am often asked by individuals, WHY NURSING? With all of your career successes why would you give that up to attend school and start a new career with its own unique challenges?  I admit, it’s a fair question, my response is simple.  Success is not always measured by money, status, power, credentials, I have had money (had... is the operative word), great career successes and power.  Success to me is doing the one thing that you would love to do even if you were not paid a single dollar.  The purpose of the journey, any journey regardless of your background, sex, culture. socio-economic status in regard to choosing a nursing career is as individualized as a fingerprint. The essence of nursing and the common commitment of "standing guard" for others is grounded in ... not what is gained but what is given. It is not a rubber stamp reflection of a job; nursing is immersed in commitment, hard work and passion for people. Why Nursing? The following is just one example: 

I have one story to share that occurred toward the end of my Med-Surg rotation. It was toward the end of our seven week clinical rotation and as usual we were all on a non-stop marathon of care plans, exams, quizzes and yes hours and hours of studying. I did what we all did on a weekly basis. prepared diligently for clinicals, gave 110% total nursing care with every assigned patient and survived at times on sheer determination, reserve energies and lack of sleep (PRN basis) to push through the long hours and manic moments of care plans, clinical preparation and project deadlines.

One particular week was especially difficult for me after receiving some untimely outside personal news. I continued to push through the distraction and provide 110% best patient care possible while remembering that regardless of my personal outside concerns, my patient and their nursing care was first and foremost. The long clinical shift ended and I drove home exhausted. I struggled with my fatigue both emotionally and physically. I pondered the question,” did my efforts today made any real difference? The personal and professional sacrifices to attend nursing school and the choice to start a new career did not seem as CLEARLY defined for me on that particular day. I continued to draw strength from my faith, and from my inner convictions to continue pushing through regardless of what I was “feeling” although my fatigue and life’s stressors were clearly working against me. (I thought, I could have money, status and work a regular 8 hr day what am I doing here jumping through all these hoops).  I proceeded on with the rest of my week pushing through to meet deadlines and task completions. (Living on caffeine and tasty food bars- always ask for the nursing student discount).

The following week while reporting to my clinical site, a letter, addressed with my name was waiting for me on the hospital floor, below my name was written, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Student. My first reaction to this letter was, “Great, it’s another bill…financial accounts has forwarded this to my clinical site…this is special”. (Financial stressors are without question a reality during nursing school education)

I proceeded to open the letter, and discovered it was written by my assigned patient from the previous week. The patient I had cared for on the day after receiving some difficult news and wondered if my nursing actions and efforts really did make a difference. (It did) The letter touched my heart and was written with such genuine gratitude and expressed beautifully written words related to the positive impact made by my direct nursing care received on that particularly difficult day. This patient expressed through a full one page letter the positive impact of her care and the difference that it made for her in her hospital experience. Her fears were eased and her comfort level improved related to the recovery and healing process of her condition. The words at the end of the letter simply stated,” You made a difference in my care and you are going to be great nurse, thank you for always going above and beyond to take care of me, you have made a perfect career move and have a great sense of humor.  (WOW) I could not believe the timing of the letter. The tears rolled down my face as I folded the letter, placed it in my pocket and realized that all my sacrifices, struggles and challenges through nursing school was not simply an academic exercise but a living example of touching lives and making a difference even when we do not realize the impact.

I will always keep that letter to remind me of regardless of our own personal circumstances and challenges in life; we do make a difference in the lives of others if we allow ourselves to embrace the gift of selfless giving. It is in those moments when we continue to give our best even though we feel as though we have nothing left to give, something marvelous occurs. We touch lives! The art and science of nursing is merged in moments that sometimes takes us by surprise and reminds us of how truly privileged we are to care for others, and to hold the sacred title Nurse or in this case, nursing student. Touching lives IS a tapestry of our successes how that is measured is as unique as the individual fingerprint. 

We do make a difference each day in the lives of others and after all isn’t that the essence of why we have chosen such a challenging yet rewarding career. Pushing through the difficulties is what provides value to our journey and adds appreciation for what lessons were learned along the way.

I would like to thank those who have written me e-mails in regard to this blog site and although the day gets quite busy, I may not always get a chance to respond but be assured they are read and they touch my heart and are greatly appreciated.   Thank you!  Congratulations to those who have been accepted into JHUSON, great job!

Take care and thanks for visiting the site.

***** 

Inspiration
Originally Posted: October 1st, 2006 at 12:08 pm

Hello Friends,

The first sets of exams have been successfully negotiated and like all things in nursing school as soon as you finish a project, care plan, or preparing for an exam; you look up and another list of deadlines and preparation must begin for another quiz, exam or patient care plan that at times seems as close as your next breath. Timing, organization and pacing yourself is key for survival to prevent feeling “overwhelmed”. You must always take time out for yourself to keep school in perspective. Imagine swimming underwater for periods of time, coming up for air to take a breath and diving back underwater, propelling yourself forward until you stop to take another breath… you quickly ascertain your position relative to your surrounding, continue heading in the direction of your intended destination and at times are unexpectedly inspired and awed by the beauty of the water world you find yourself involved in.

This weekend I was so inspired... not by the creatures of the sea, but by some of the most incredible and amazing people who are part of the legacy and tradition of the "Alumni Association”. These women and men are graduates from the JHUSON ranging from past graduating classes dating as far back as the 1940’s to recent graduates.

I had a few hours on Saturday to volunteer and help with their annual Alumni Association breakfast and lunch and I must say…I was a bit tired from a long week of exams, studying, evening clinicals and writing care plans. I had to force myself to get up early on Saturday morning…but I committed myself, so I slowly moved toward my car (the pep in my step was a little lagging) and drove to the hotel with a cup of coffee in my hand and humored by the lack of traffic on a Saturday morning in downtown Baltimore (most likely these folks were still sleeping).

As I positioned myself near the door to their function (my volunteer role) wearing a lab coat to primarily identify myself clearly as a student, I began greeting the alumni who were entering the ballroom for their breakfast and could not help but feel their enthusiastic energy. I was awed at the sight of these remarkable women and men who ranged from the ages of 91yrs to twenty something. They proceeded to file past me, greeted me with a smile and many of them stopped to engage in a few minutes of conversation. Their sharing of accomplishments, experiences and pride of being part of the JHUSON nursing legacy was evident by their grace, poise, humor, intelligence and incredible warmth and positive energy. From current Nurse Practitioners to the aged and retired nurses, they each shared personal stories about their experiences from the war to present day nursing with energetic animation that captured my attention and inspired my soul. I looked around the room at one point and just took in the energy from this collective group of amazing individuals who each one in their own right has contributed a part of themselves and continues to influence the art and science of nursing.

As I embraced their energy and laughed at their stories, I could see the passion and love for nursing in their eyes and it moved me because it was so genuine and unmasked. It was part of who they were and it propelled them forward….seeking out new challenges and never settling for the status quo.

As I finished my duties and prepared to leave, I assisted an older retired nurse (70-80 yrs) to the bathroom facilities. As we briefly talked, and laughed about needing a map to find the bathroom in the hotel, she stopped, turned to me and said,” Do you like nursing so far?”
I responded honestly to her inquiry and stated ” I do love the clinicals, but you remember what it was like sludging through Nursing school-your always immersed in something.

With a sparkle in her eye, and firm grasp on my arm she said,” Yes dear, I remember, but always know even in the hard times, you will touch the lives of people and in time you will make your own contributions to nursing”. She continued, “I am old and have not been active for many years but my hope is that students like yourself will follow in our legacy and never forget the nurses who have gone ahead of you and left their mark…you must do the same.”

I said “Yes Ma'am, I will always remember.” I thanked her for her words of wisdom said good-bye, told her to take good care of herself and walked toward the elevator. I stopped for a moment to turn in her direction …she was gone. Our brief encounter was inspiring to me and yet so simple in its transaction. I am glad I had the opportunity to meet her even for just a few minutes ….she was more than an alumni attending a function she was a nurse and a genuine soul with over sixty (60) years of experience, working with patients and impacting lives. With that spark in her eye and genuine spirit she did what she has probably done throughout her entire nursing career….touched a life, left an impression and kindled inspiration in someone she had only briefly met. The energy from the morning event carried me throughout the day and when at times I feel as though I am running low on energy and can’t bear the thought of studying another 3-4 hours on a subject….I will remember the spark in her eye and that genuine soul who has blazed a trail and continues to propel herself forward.

I would encourage all students who have the opportunity … to get involved with the alumni association, it is a remarkable group of people that not only have gone through the gauntlet of nursing school education but who continue to impact the field of nursing today on many levels and fronts. Their kindred spirit, historical legacy and passion are energies that never waivers and their light is never extinguished. What a wonderful career we have chosen!

*****

Academics and the “rite of passage”
Originally Posted: September 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pm

Hello Friends,

The monthly calendar reflects midway through September and we are now progressing into the third week of clinicals and exam periods. The Nursing school experience is just that…an “Experience”. The “right of passage” is the maneuvering through each semester and one step closer to meeting the personal goals of graduating and entering the professional field of Nursing. The passage is marked by at times straight paths, but more often by winding and challenging roads that each student must negotiate to move closer to that finish line. The perseverance of pursuit is in the spirit of completion and the reality of the “schoolhouse environment” is merely a right of passage that will allow you to eventually be part of a profession that is special, unique and often challenging.

I as most students have been challenged, frustrated, and at times edified by my experiences thus far. I can pass close friends in the hallways and know by the look on their faces what kind of day their having. Nursing students become very adept at picking up energy (negative or positive) with each other and can empathize as only a collective group can that share similar experiences within the same environment.

Each semester and each clinical is progression toward the next higher level of learning. Having the opportunity this summer to work with some excellent Emergency Room / Trauma Nurses solidified the balance between school (the means) and working in the “real time” world of nursing (the valued end). To keep your eyes on the prize even when your sunk under for a week or two (as a friend told me once) is to understand the “right of passage” and know that the value of each person going through this process will have something special to offer and contribute to the field of Nursing. The science of nursing is only partially complete if the spirit and heart is lacking the passion. The passion comes from what it already in place, but is pruned and tuned by the struggle and frequent challenges from just being in nursing school.

To my friends who read this blog and who I know are struggling getting back in the groove of the fast paced academic tempo here at the SON, be assured your in good company and persevere, we are almost there.

Sometimes it is all about the journey that gives us strength to rise above the challenge and make our own mark when the time is right!

Take care and thanks for visiting the site, I will see you around Campus!

For those readers who are reading this and who are not yet in Nursing School but thinking about it….my advice to you is… the journey is worth the pains of passage….so take the risk and jump in with both feet. You're in good company, believe me.

6:33pm and counting