OReilly 1 Sarah OReilly English 1103-025 Professor Blair December 3, 2013 Secon ary Disco!rse of a "er#ifie $!

rsing %ssis#an# &hen referring #o a secon ary isco!rse 'ee says i# is im(or#an# #o )ens!re #ha# #he *righ# (eo(le ge# #o #he *righ# (laces+, "er#ain e-en#s in ones life, goo or ba , mor(h #hem #o become #he righ# (erson for a (ar#ic!lar isco!rse+ .hey say e-ery#hing ha((ens for a reason, #his / #r!ly belie-e+ &ha# is mos# im(or#an# is ho0 one reac#s #o 0ha#e-er life #hro0s a# #hem+ Being able #o ma1e a goo o!#come o!# of a ba e2(erience 0as one of #he bes# #hings #ha# has e-er ha((ene #o me3 learning #he isco!rse of becoming a cer#ifie n!rsing assis#an# 4"$%5+ 6!ne 7i1!chi sai , )%ccor ing #o some, #he n!rsing na#!re is na#!ral3 i# has an essence #ha# oes no# change an is #o be isco-ere o-er #ime3 i#s na#!re is #o be e-elo(e an is con-en#ional, 47i1!chi (g+885+ Being a cer#ifie n!rsing assis#an# en#ails more #han 9!s# s#! ying a #e2#boo1, ma1ing goo gra es, an ha-ing a grea# #hirs# for 1no0le ge+ /# re:!ires a ee( sense of mo#i-a#ion, an #he (ersonali#y #rai#s of a caring, acce(#ing, an self a0are in i-i !al+ )/ came #o reali;e #ha#, for me, #he (!r(ose of life is a life of (!r(ose, 47ang (ar+15+ / also came #o #his reali;a#ion af#er a -ery hear#fel# an #ra!ma#ic e-en# affec#e my family, #he momen# #ha# / hear my mo#her 0as iagnose 0i#h breas# cancer+ / fel# my 0hole 0orl crashing o0n aro!n me+ / 0as scare for myself, my ol er sis#er, an my a , b!# mos# of all3 / 0as scare for my mom+ / 0as ner-o!s for #he #ime 0e ha lef# #oge#her+ / 0as ner-o!s #ha# / 0o!l n# be able #o e2(erience #he res# of my life gro0ing !( 0i#h a mo#her+ %# #ha# s(ecific #ime in my life, my mo#hers sic1ness 0as #he only #hing / co!l #hin1 of+ / 0as no# in#eres#e in my f!#!re, school,

OReilly 2 or frien s+ <y (aren#s #rie #o e2(lain n!mero!s #imes #o my sis#er an / 0ha# #he oc#ors #ol #hem an 0ha# #he ne2# s#e(s on her )s(ee y roa of reco-ery, 0o!l be+ %ll of #hese 0or s 0en# in one ear an o!# #he o#her+ / 0as obli-io!s #o #he me ical lang!age being #hro0n a# me+ .his #ra!ma#ic e-en# bro!gh# me #o #he reali;a#ion #ha# / 0an#e #o learn a ne0 secon ary isco!rse #ha# 0o!l allo0 me #o learn abo!# an hel( (a#ien#s #ha# 0ere in similar con i#ions as my mo#hers+ =rom accom(anying my mo#her #o her #rea#men#s an -ario!s oc#ors a((oin#men#s, / became e#ermine #o be able #o !n ers#an 0ha# 0as going on in #his chao#ic si#!a#ion+ .he ne2# s#e( / #oo1 0as a small one #ha# ha a large effec# on my f!#!re3 enrolling in me ical classes a# my high school+ %s my mo#her 0as going #hro!gh her #rea#men#s / 0as rea ing #he i ea of becoming a freshman in high school+ / fig!re my bes# ecision 0as #o combine 0ha# / #r!ly care abo!# in#o my school 0or1+ / me# 0i#h my g!i ance co!nselor, <r+ "oa#s, an e2(laine #o him #ha# / 0an#e #o learn e-ery#hing / (ossibly co!l #ha# eal# 0i#h me icine+ Before / 1ne0 i#, #he sche !le for my ne2# fo!r years of high school 0as fille 0i#h an !nbelie-able amo!n# of me ical classes+ %s #ime 0en# on, my mo#hers reco-ery 0as (rogressing3 / 0as becoming more mo#i-a#e an e !ca#e + .a1ing #he amo!n# of me ical science classes #ha# / i a# %#hens Dri-e >igh School, / 0as a!#oma#ically enrolle in#o #he <e ical Science %ca emy+ Being -ery in-ol-e in #he aca emy, / 0as in#ro !ce #o <rs+ ?affan+ <rs+ ?affan 0as #he hea of #he <e ical Science %ca emy an 0as my #eacher in e-ery me ical class a# %#hens Dri-e >igh School+ She 0as a -ery mo es#, e2(erience la y 0ho ha (re-io!sly 0or1e as a regis#ere n!rse an la#er on manage a ma9or hos(i#al in $e0 @or1 "i#y+ .he #all 0oman 0i#h 0hi#e hair, small glasses, clear braces, an an /rish accen# hel -ery #ra i#ional morals, an ga-e off an innocen#

OReilly 3 im(ression #o her high school s#! en#s+ %l#ho!gh her min seeme #o be sca##ere a# #imes, e-ery s#! en# ha an !ns#a#e #r!s# in her 1no0le ge, an #eaching abili#ies+ <rs+ ?affan is a -ery com(assiona#e la y an 0en# o!# of her 0ay n!mero!s #imes #o see her s#! en#s s!ccee + <rs+ ?affan a((roache me one ay an as1e if / 0o!l be in#eres#e in mee#ing 0i#h #he (rinci(le an some fac!l#y members #o e2(lain 0hy / sho!l be chosen #o be s(onsore #o #a1e a "er#ifie $!rsing %ssis#an# co!rse a# &a1e .echnical "omm!ni#y "ollege+ &hen / me# 0i#h #he school boar , #hey offere #o (ay for my enrollmen# in#o #he class+ / 0as 0arne by many #ha# i# 0o!l no# be easy an 0o!l #a1e a lo# of #ime an effor#+ / (re(are myself an 0as o-er9oye #o begin #his e2(erience+ <rs+ ?affan 0as a h!ge s!((or#er in me f!r#hering my me ical 1no0le ge as a "$%+ .here 0ere boo1s !(on boo1s #o be (!rchase in or er #o #a1e #he "er#ifie $!rsing %ssis#an# co!rse a# &a1e .echnical "omm!ni#y "ollege+ .hese #e2#s #a!gh# me ical abbre-ia#ions #ha# / 0o!l soon come across 0hile 0or1ing+ $o# only i / learn #hese #e2#boo1 efini#ions, / also ha #o (!# #hem in#o ac#ion by learning ifferen# s1ill se#s, s!ch as #he s#e(s #o fee ing an !nconscio!s (a#ien#, or assis#ing a isable (erson !sing a be (an+ &hen / i s#ar# #he class, i# 0as s#range being #a!gh# 0i#h classma#es 0ho 0ere m!ch ol er #han me+ %# #imes / fel# o!# of (lace, b!# ne-er #oo1 my si#!a#ion for gran#e + /n #his co!rse / 0as in#ro !ce #o my ins#r!c#or, <rs+ Bro0n+ <rs+ Bro0n 0as a -ery sof# s(o1en %frican %merican 0oman 0ho s#oo a# #he heigh# of my sho!l ers+ She 0or1e as a (ar# #ime (rofessor a# &a1e .ech "omm!ni#y "ollege an (ar# #ime as hea n!rse a# #he 0omens (rison in Raleigh, $or#h "arolina+ <y firs# im(ression of <rs+ Bro0n 0as a #o!gh ins#r!c#or 0ho ac1no0le ge no nonsense+ =rom #he beginning of class, she se# #he e2(ec#a#ions of #he class -ery high an 0o!l no# c!# slac1 for anyone, es(ecially 0hen i# came #o #es#ing+ >o0e-er, 0or1ing 0i#h her o-er

OReilly C s!ch a long (erio of #ime, 0e gre0 -ery close+ / crac1e her e2#erior fron# an reali;e she 0as sim(ly a goofy la y 0ho en9oye hel(ing (eo(le+ E-en #ho!gh 0e bon e , she s#ill i no# ma1e #hings easy+ / can recall many ays 0here / 0an#e #o gi-e !( an say a# leas# / #rie + .hen / 0o!l #hin1, if #he n!rses 0ho #oo1 care of my mo#her ga-e !( an only #rie , #hey 0o!l no# be 0here #hey are no0, sa-ing my mo#hers life+ .his single (iece of mo#i-a#ion alone le me #o gra !a#ing, recei-ing my cer#ifica#ion, an ma1ing myself, my mo#her, an many o#hers (ro! + .he co!rse 0as -ery challenging beca!se of #he 0or1 loa / recei-e as a high schoolAcollege s#! en#+ %l#ho!gh / #oo1 me ical classes in high school, #he en#ire c!rric!l!m / 0as learning in #he "$% class 0as m!ch more in e(#h an fairly ne0 ma#erial+ .he mi2#!re of com(e#i#ion an esire / hel #hro!gho!# #he co!rse ga-e me a grea# mo#i-a#ion #o 0or1 #hro!gh

#he iffic!l# #imes+ / consi er my e !ca#ion from #he classroom as basic 1no0le ge (re(aring me for 0ha# 0as ahea + .he ac#!ali#y of being immerse in #he hos(i#al se##ing (ar# of #he co!rse allo0e me #o e2(erience e-ery#hing #ha# / learne in ac#ion+ Barbara "herry sai , )Some#imes s#! en#s #hin1 i# is easier 9!s# #o fig!re o!# 0ha# #he #eacher 0an#s an s#! y for #he #es# ra#her #han engage an in#erac# o!# of #he class+ >o0e-er, o!# of class, s#! en#s learn #o ma1e realis#ic ecisions, collabora#e in gro!(s, an manage #heir #ime an reso!rces, 4"herry (g+B35+ Being gi-en #he o((or#!ni#y #o 9ob sha o0 o#her "$%s an heal#h (rofessionals ee(ene my !n ers#an ing an ans0ere any :!es#ions / ha + %f#er / recei-e my cer#ifica#ion, / 0as in my final an mos# en9oyable s#e( of my secon ary isco!rse, 0or1ing as a "er#ifie $!rsing %ssis#an# in &a1e <e >os(i#al+ .his s#age ga-e me s!ch an o-er0helming feeling of accom(lishmen# an sa#isfac#ion+ / learne many (hrases an co es #ha# are !se in #he hos(i#al se##ing+ =or e2am(le, #he co e #o ha-e access #o #he me icine close# 0as C55D+ .he s!((ly close# co e 0as C5BD+ / also ha #o be a0are of #hings

OReilly 5 li1e #he (a#ien#s n!mbers on #heir hos(i#al ban s an be boar s, an #he amo!n# of me icine #hey 0ere (rescribe &or1ing in #he hos(i#al for #he firs# #ime 0as easily one of #he mos# ner-e 0rac1ing e2(eriences / ha-e e-er ha + / :!ic1ly reali;e #ha# / 0as no longer rea ing a #e2#boo1, no longer (rac#icing on !mmies or my fello0 classma#es+ .hese 0ere ac#!al sic1 an Aor in9!re (a#ien#s 0ho nee e my hel(+ %s soon as / s#e((e on#o #he fo!r#h floor of &a1e <e hos(i#al in#o #he Rehabili#a#ion 0ing, $!rse Be#h #oo1 me !n er her 0ing+ .he firs# #ime she a((roache me, she as1e me #o re#!rn a (iece of e:!i(men# #o #he s!((ly close#+ &hen she reali;e / 0as ne0 an i n# 1no0 0here any#hing 0as she ins#r!c#e me #o follo0 her for #he res# of #he nigh# #o become a0are of my s!rro!n ings+ &hen 0e began #o learn more abo!# each o#her !ring o0n#ime in #he brea1 room she 0as as#onishe by my ambi#ion a# s!ch a yo!ng age+ / belie-e #he grea# connec#ion $!rse Be#h an / ha 0as !e #o #he high res(ec# 0e ga-e each o#her+ $!rse Be#h 0as a hef#y ol er 0oman 0i#h #hin blon e hair an crys#al clear bl!e eyes+ She ha a grea# sense of h!mor, a((recia#e by bo#h her co0or1ers an (a#ien#s+ .he #hing / a mire mos# abo!# $!rse Be#h 0as her abili#y #o connec# 0i#h e-ery single one of her (a#ien#s on a s(ecial le-el+ She care for #hem li1e i# 0as someone she 1ne0 an lo-e her 0hole life+ %s S!;anne 'or on sai , )"le-er n!rses are smar# eno!gh #o care, 4'or on (g+1C25+ >er 0arm#h an concern #r!ly sho0e in her ac#ions an 0as cherishe by many+ %l#ho!gh / am s#ill c!rren#ly in #his s#age of 0or1ing as a "er#ifie $!rsing %ssis#an#, / can recall a s(ecific memory #ha# ma e all of my 0or1 an effor# 0or#h i#+ &i#hin my firs# 0ee1 of 0or1ing a# &a1e <e >os(i#al, / 0as in#ro !ce #o a -ery memorable (a#ien#, <r+ <ea o0s+ $!rse Be#h informe me #ha# his case is -ery !ni:!e an emo#ionally raining+ / learne #ha# <r+ <ea o0s 0as a for#y year ol man, (araly;e from hea #o #oe+ >is #hir#een year ol son 0as

OReilly E charge 0i#h a##em(#e m!r er for (!shing him off a loa ing oc1 ca!sing him #o ha-e a conca-e s1!ll+ &hen / hear of #he s#ory / co!l har ly 0ra( my min aro!n i#+ .he firs# #ime / sa0 <r+ <ea o0s / 0as o-er0helme 3 / ne-er sa0 someone loo1 li1e #hey 0ere in so m!ch (ain+ .he 0ay $!rse Be#h #al1e me #hro!gh his reco-ery 0as so calm3 i# ma e me 0on er if his horrific s#ory e-en fa;e her+ Soon / came #o learn #ha#, )a n!rse is self-a0are, able #o co(e 0i#h isclos!re, an has highly e-elo(e in#er(ersonal s1ills, 4'or on (g+12E5+ D!ring my career a# &a1e <e , / s(en# ho!rs !(on ho!rs 0i#h <r+ <ea o0s3 #al1ing #o him, ba#hing him, #!be fee ing him, e#c+ &i#h <r+ <ea o0s only being able #o mo-e his eyes, / 0on ere if he co!l recogni;e or !n ers#an 0ho / 0as+ Slo0ly b!# s!rely, he began #o mo-e his finger#i(s an #oes #o sho0 small signs of e2(ression+ &hen i# came #ime for me #o lea-e for college, / 0as 0or1ing in &a1e <e for my las# nigh#+ <r+ <ea o0s 0ife 0ro#e me a car saying she a((recia#e e-ery#hing / i for her h!sban + &hen / 0en# #o his room #o say goo bye #o him, <r+ <ea o0s 0as s!r(risingly si##ing !( in his chair, smiling a# me+ %s $ancy Pine sai , )FE-en #ho!gh #he ays are b!sy an #he 0or1loa is al0ays gro0ing, #here are s#ill #hose s(ecial momen#s 0hen someone says or oes some#hing an yo! 1no0 yo!-e ma e a ifference in someones life, 4Pine Par+E5+ %l#ho!gh i# may no# seem li1e i#, #ha# #han1 yo! car an one li##le smile mean# #he 0orl #o me+ / consi er myself #o be a -ery l!c1y (erson #o ha-e 0a#che an been in-ol-e 0i#h s!ch a grea# reco-ery for s!ch a grea# man+ / ne-er #ho!gh# #ha# s!ch a horrible #hing, li1e my mo#hers iagnosis of breas# cancer, 0o!l ha-e s!ch a s#rong, (osi#i-e o!#come on my life+ .his e-en#, my !(bringing, an my e !ca#ion all lea me #o #he *righ# (lace #o learn my secon ary isco!rse+ .he a##rib!#es an -al!es #ha# / hol ma1e me confi en# #ha# / am #he *righ# (erson for #his (ar#ic!lar isco!rse+ S!ch -al!es are #a!gh# an !n ers#oo in #he (rimary isco!rse+ >o0e-er, #hey are es(ecially

OReilly B highligh#e in #he secon ary isco!rse of anyone 0or1ing in #he n!rsing fiel + )Schools migh# anno!nce #ha# #hey e2(ec# yo!, as a can i a#e for a mission, #o ha-e -ir#!es alrea y+ Schools #eaching me icine, !nli1e mos# o#her ins#i#!#ions of higher e !ca#ion claim #o e !ca#e as m!ch e#hics as in science, 47nag (g+15G5+ .his is beca!se n!rsing, !nli1e many o#her (rofessions, has a -ery high s(iri#!al calling an re:!ires -ery s(ecific 1no0le ge, -al!es, an s1ills+

OReilly 8 &or1s "i#e "herry, Barbara, an S!san R+ 6acob+ <a1ing #he .ransi#ion =rom S#! en# #o Professional $!rse+ Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management+ 3+ Else-ier, 2005+ Prin#+ 7i1!chi, 6!ne =+, >elen Simmons, an Donna Romyn+ Truth in Nursing Inquiry+ Sage P!blica#ions, 1GGE+ Prin#+ 7nag, 6!lie 6!ng+ H% Science an >!mani#ies <a9orI .he /ns(ira#ion of P!r(ose+H .rans+ %rray The Yale Guide to Careers in Medicine and the Health Pro essions+ @ale Jni-ersi#y Press, 2003+ Prin#+ $elson, Sioban, an S!;anne 'or on+ The Comple!ities " Care: Nursing #econsidered+ /?R Press, Prin#+ Pine, $ancy+ H% Par#nershi( for "$% .raining+H Nursing Homes: $ong Term Care Management CG+3 n+ (age+ Prin#+