It has been a while, so here it goes. Today was my first day with my preceptor. I drove the 35 min (or so) to the clinic. The drive was long and I passed by my old middle school and elementary school. I drove by the gas station I use to ride my bike to. I drove along the slightly curved Route 66 and made it to a small building with a sign: College of Nursing UNM Family Practice, Midwifery and Pediatrics. The wind blew me from my car to the front door where I met a welcoming nurse. She hurried me into a small office where two nurse practitioners shared a modest space. I sat in silence waiting for my preceptor. I started to review my History questions, review my physical assessment techniques. I was nervous, excited, and honestly wondering if I was taking a step forward or a step backward.
I met my preceptor; she entered like a whirlwind and laid her bag out with supplies she took on a recent home visit. Her energy was transferred to me and as I went through my histories and physical assessments she guided me through each step with encouragement and feedback. The last patient of the day was a home visit. And I ended the day with my reflection and Ah Ha moment.
There are times when you make a life changing decision or choice and you ask yourself is this what I really wanted? Did I do the right thing? I have to say, that today was enough to re-energize my personal goals. Working in rural health care as a Family Nurse Practitioner is not the same adrenaline rush you get working at a Level 1 trauma center, but the personal gains of helping families, and being your own provider, those are high’s all on their own.
I ended the day with Lasagna from mom, just another reminder of how good it is to be home and an early Christmas gift, Flannel sheets. It feels good to have a family that loves me and to live in the house that my hands rebuilt with the help, love and guidance of my family. So at the end of the day, I can breathe out and say “You made the right choice”….
Decided to re-share a link. This is my self and a medic cleaning in Afghanistan, it seems like worlds away now, but then I am reminded with emails and pictures from friends. Every time I think I am having a tough day, or I worry that I might not have made the right choices to follow my dreams, I take a step back and think...just one more step forward.
