Maryum Abdul-Basir Final Analysis BSN Portfolio

It is hard to believe that my journey here at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing is

coming to an end. I can still remember sitting in New Student Orientation and being so nervous

not knowing what to expect of the journey I would partake in over the course of the next three

years. While writing this reflection, it amazes me at the level of growth and confidence I have

gained in these last three years. From day one I grew from a shy caterpillar into a confident

butterfly ready to spread my wings and journey into the professional nurse role.

I can remember my first day of Competencies I class at Richmond Community Hospital.

I was so anxious and nervous walking into my first patient’s room. I hadn’t had any experience

at all being in a hospital besides the occasional visit with sick family members. I can remember

the patient telling me after I gave them their bath how great I did. I remember her saying she

knows nursing school is hard, but whatever I do stick with it and I’ll make it through. Those

words have stuck with me for the last three years.

There have been many times during my time in the nursing program when I questioned

myself. If we practiced a skill in Competencies class that I didn’t grasp right away I feared I

would never be able properly perform the skill in the clinical setting. I remember one of our

earliest skills was learning how to apply sterile gloves. I practiced and practiced, but somehow

always managed to touch the sterile portion of the gloves with the unsterile portion of the glove.

I remember leaving Competencies I class feeling so defeated. I thought to myself that there was

no way I could be a nurse if I couldn’t even put on gloves. I went home and watched YouTube

videos for two hours about instructions of how to put on the gloves. I walked into Competencies

class the next week confident I would be able to put on those sterile gloves and I did on the first

try. I was so excited. That same attitude of walking into a task being confident, even if you

don’t know every little detail to a task, is the same mindset I have carried throughout the
Maryum Abdul-Basir Final Analysis BSN Portfolio

program. There have been times especially during junior I semester when I did not grasp certain

contents in ANS I class and when it was time to test, I walked into the test confident I would

pass.

Being in a program that offered so many clinical hours allowed me to be able to

constantly work on building my clinical expertise. Each semester in clinical, I found myself

growing in my critical thinking skills and being able to apply concepts learned in class in the

clinical setting. By the end of my ANS II practicum experience, I was surprised at how much I

had learned. When I first began immersion at the beginning of my final semester in the program,

I was so nervous. I wasn’t sure how the relationship with my preceptor would be and I was

nervous because this was the last time as a student, I would have the chance to practice skills and

knowledge I needed as a future nurse. The first day of immersion I surprised not only myself, but

my preceptor. I went into each patient room confidently and was able to complete full care on

three out of five of my preceptor’s patients. I really hit the ground running from day one and by

the end of my immersion I was able to take five patients. I was so proud of myself I felt like a

novice professional registered nurse. I regularly spoke to providers on the phone concerning

patient care and I even was able to participate in my first rapid response when my patient began

to decline. I had such a great immersion experience and I was able to secure a position working

on the unit as a nurse after graduation.

Throughout my nursing program I experienced extreme highs and lows. At the end of my

first semester of the program I experienced a really bad breakup with my significant other of

three years. I was really depressed and sad for weeks and it was a struggle to focus on my school

work. I am thankful for my amazing group of friends and family who helped me through that

difficult time. During junior year while at ANS II practicum I found out my aunt had passed
Maryum Abdul-Basir Final Analysis BSN Portfolio

away. That was really difficult for me as my aunt was like a second mother to me. Again, the

support of my friends and family helped me through, as well as my ANS II practicum clinical

group. When I found out the news, they were there for me to make sure I was alright.

There were tremendous highs that also shaped my time in the nursing program. One was

when I was awarded two scholarships for two consecutive years. I was so happy to have been

recognized for my achievements in the program. While in the program I was able to meet great

people, who have traveled the path with me in finishing the program. I consider them to be

lifelong friends and look forward to us moving into the next chapter of our professional careers

together.

As I prepare to start my professional career, I will continue to work on walking

confidently in my abilities to practice as a nurse. I will continue to try to seek out opportunities

for growth and not be afraid of failing. Arthur Ashe once stated, “success is a journey, not a

destination”. My journey at Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing has now become a piece

of the puzzle that makes up my life story. I am forever grateful for every part of that journey and

I look forward beginning my next chapter.