An Oregon Trail Millennial Enters Healthcare OR "Let's Not All Die From Dysntery"

I'm of the millennial generation, but old enough to remember a world with no internet. I'm also a nursing student, a husband, and a proud, proud father. If all goes as planned I'll be graduating in July and starting a new career as an RN.

It's a strange and exciting time to be in healthcare. In a world that is increasingly individualistic, and partitioned, my cohort and I find ourselves immersed in situations that are deeply personal, intimate, and sometimes frightening. Even as a student, people in the hospital setting see your scrubs, a stethoscope, and imbue you with all sorts of authority you aren't sure you deserve.

Sometimes they don't. Sometimes patients throw things at you, but that's a post for another day.

Nursing isn't a fairy tale. It's not holding hands and singing lullabies and receiving weepy-eyed bedside gratitude. But it is a thrill. It's a chance to be of service, and to hold sacred the experiences of people at their most vulnerable, even those who don't know to be grateful.

In a field that is increasingly focused on the mechanics of the body, and the physical interventions that keep it running, nurses provide the sort of holistic care that keeps the dignity and wellness of the person in the forefront. We treat the body, but also acknowledge and honor the individual in front of us. And that I think, is where healing really comes from.

If you have a story about nursing, or the healthcare profession in general that has had an impact on your life, I'm eager to hear it. What you can expect from me is my honest perspective on the state of nursing/healthcare, and some insight into how I keep myself well in during school.

Thanks for reading.