On the Journey to Becoming a Nurse
By Tiffany King
海角社区 Senior Cameron Van Horn feels well-prepared to start her journey as a nurse. Van Horn will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in May. The Hinesville native can鈥檛 believe that the time has come to graduate and step into her new career. It seems like yesterday she was a freshman working at the College鈥檚 Health Center, and now she will soon join one of the noblest professions.
Van Horn always knew that she wanted to work in the medical field but didn鈥檛 know where to start. Her father suggested that she enroll at Coastal Georgia for nursing then attend medical school. At first, she wanted to go to a big college some hours away, but fell in love with the College after touring the campus.
鈥淚 like it. It鈥檚 close to the beach, and I eventually liked that it was close to home. I got homesick really fast. Since it鈥檚 only an hour away, I could go home when I wanted,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also tight knit. All my professors have been awesome鈥攆rom freshman year till now. They鈥檝e been easy to reach and supportive. I鈥檝e heard from my friends that go to bigger schools that they don鈥檛 really get that.鈥�
Van Horn worked at the Health Center for two years. She had an awesome experience, and interacting with the staff gave her insight into a career in nursing.
鈥淚t was cool to interact with them and talk to them about their nursing experience,鈥� Van Horn said. 鈥淲orking on campus helped me come out of my shell because I鈥檓 kind of shy. I got to interact with other students and teach them, which is important for nursing students because you need to know how to talk to people.鈥�
Although she is unsure what field of nursing to pursue, she plans to start as a unit nurse on the med-surgical (med-surg) floor, where she will continue to hone her skills before becoming a nurse practitioner. Van Horn likes the hands-on aspect of nursing and caring for patients and their families.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be a unit nurse for a little while before going to school. I just want to make sure that in my next step, I鈥檓 doing what I want to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to go to school to get another degree just to say that I have a degree. I want to be happy. I鈥檝e seen a lot of nurses doing something they don鈥檛 like, and I don鈥檛 want to end up like that. I鈥檓 just going to take my time.鈥�
Van Horn enjoyed her nursing classes, although very difficult, which is why it鈥檚 hard for her to choose which field to go into. Her favorites were the maternity class and the preceptorship鈥攁lso known as her practicum鈥攚hich helped her figure out her next steps after graduation. For her preceptorship, Van Horn was assigned to work at St. Joseph鈥檚 Candler Hospital in Savannah on the med-surg floor. She shadowed other nurses and eventually took over nursing duties, such as assessing patients, medicating patients, answering questions, and educating patients for discharge.
鈥淚t was kind of scary at first. We had 10 shifts, and by the tenth shift, I felt that I was more prepared than I was on the first shift,鈥� Van Horn said. 鈥淭hat was one of my favorite classes because that was the first clinical where I could do 100 percent of the tasks. I felt like I was actually learning much more than my other clinicals where you just watched and did things every now and then.鈥�
Maternity nurses advised Van Horn that med-surg is a great place to start to keep her skills fresh. Her preceptorship not only solidified where she wants to begin as a nurse but provided an employment opportunity. Van Horn has been hired by St. Joseph鈥檚 to work on the very floor she did her preceptorship.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited鈥攏ervous and excited,鈥� she said about her new job. 鈥淚 was going to wait to tell people, but they (her parents) already spilled the beans and told everybody. They鈥檙e excited, happy, and proud.鈥�
Van Horn is a different person now compared to her freshman year. This is mostly due to her experience in the nursing program. She learned that she didn鈥檛 always have to be perfect but to also challenge and push herself.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really up to you to learn. I learned to be patient. I felt like I鈥檝e always been kind, but it is important to be kind because you don鈥檛 know what others are going through,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned to be grateful for all the opportunities that I鈥檝e had, and I hope that I continue to learn.鈥�
The College is a Special Place
Van Horn appreciates all the enjoyable experiences and opportunities she鈥檚 had at the College. For example, she attended an Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) conference on behalf of the Health Center, where she saw performances and activities that could be brought to campus. Over the summer, she did an externship with the Southeast Georgia Health System and worked as a certified nursing assistant while shadowing a nurse.
鈥淚 thought that was cool because it added to the clinical experience since last spring we didn鈥檛 get to finish our clinicals because of COVID. I wouldn鈥檛 have known about that opportunity if I wasn鈥檛 in the nursing program,鈥� she said.
She鈥檚 also enjoyed meeting different people, the friendships she鈥檚 developed, and the close proximity to the beach鈥攚hich is one of her favorite places.
The College is a special place that Van Horn wishes more high school students knew about. She understands the allure of bigger, more popular colleges, but recognizes the value of small college.
鈥淭he College is close knit, and once you start getting into your study, you鈥檙e going to need your professors, and it helps to boost your confidence and support system,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 really great to have as a college student.鈥�
Her advice to her peers is to keep going because it will all be worth it in the end.
鈥淜eep your head up,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ry if you need to, but make sure you get back and do your best.鈥�
After graduation, Van Horn plans to take a short break before she starts studying for the National Council Licensure Examination. She鈥檚 also looking forward to spending more time with her family, and rediscovering her hobbies, such as playing tennis, and reading.