N.I.T.s

There is a name for people like us.  I'm not exactly sure what it is, but the best I've come up with thus far are NITs ---Nurses In Training.

While we're only eight weeks deep into nursing school, the program here hasn't wasted time in getting our education and training process underway.  The seem long, while most weeks fly by.  If it doesn't make sense, it will when you're here.   So I came to Hopkins to become a great nurse.  That’s it.  Simple as that.  Take the appropriate classes, get good grades, learn the skills, and point me to a patient. 

However since arriving my peripherals have been blown off with all of the various opportunities secondary to our core objective.  Center for Global Health...what's that?  Student government...sure, sign me up.  Intramural sports...lets play.  Community Outreach program...okey-dokey.  Not to mention just across the street is the School of Public Health which offers keynote big-name speakers and fascinating elective classes.   One of the most powerful moments in the program thus far came during a class within the first two weeks.  Up on the screen our instructor put a picture of a Johns Hopkins diploma.  She then asked "so where is it?"  "Where is what?" the class responded."  The GPA.  Where is the GPA on the diploma?"  It was a point well made, as GPA's don't exist on diplomas.  I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief leave the lungs from everyone in the room. 

The lesson stands though; am I here to get good grades or am I here to get an education?  Make no scruples about it, there is a difference between the two and I for one have made my choice.  I wish you luck in making yours.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to study before our football game.