From Pretending to be a Nurse to Actually Becoming One
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By Hadiatou Wann | 01/18/2019
Many can recall in their childhood boasting about how they will one day become a nurse, but not all actually become one. Since Maudlynn RN was a child, she would play with her dolls and pretend to be a doctor or nurse. She no long has to pretend because that has become her reality.
So many want to go into nursing because it is one of the fields where one can land a job almost immediately after graduating from college. However, not everyone is willing to put up with the long and tedious hours of studying.
After realizing that there was a shortage of nurses, Maudlynn decided go into the medical field and fill in the gap.
She applied to several colleges and asked God to “lead [her] directly to the college she wanted to go,” which was St. Joseph’s College.
She got into the college of her choice. It is very competitive to get in the nursing program. What set her apart from other applicants was the fact that she had good grades, 90 hours of volunteer work under her wing and heart-felt recommendation letters.
After graduation, some are quick to throw their caps and gowns in the back burner and never look back. Not Maudlynn. Although she was thrilled to receive her nursing degree in 2013, she didn’t want to leave St. Joseph’s College because the staff and professors made students feel comfortable and at home. They also gave the graduates tips on how to succeed in the workplace.
Maudlynn is a Registered Nurse working full-time at a hospital and is pursuing her master’s in family nurse practitioner at New York University (NYU). She has a certificate in Gerontology.
After 4 years of working, she was promoted to Assistant Nurse Manager. Not only out of luck, but because in 2016 she was the recipient of an Outstanding Nurse Award for Excellent Critical Care Clinical Practice Leadership, had never called out sick, and obeyed the rules and regulations of the hospital.
Maudlynn’s co-worker Veronica Choisene says that, “Maudlynn is an excellent Registered Nurse. She is well organized, a people person, has a great sense of humor, excellent communication skills, is hard working, trustworthy and a team player.” She adds that Maudlynn “enjoys helping and taking care of people and will go above and beyond to help others.”
Those who think that what you study in nursing school won’t be applied once you become a nurse, ought to know that their knowledge will definitely be tested again. It is a hands-on field, so terminologies and practices will resurface once you start working.
What does it take to be a nurse? “You have to have a lot of patience, be a team player, and be a people person,” said the nurse.
Many times, patients have died while holding Maudlynn’s hands, or when their family members were not around. If the family of the deceased patient were there, she always comforted them. The first time a patient died in her presence, “[she] did not sleep for a whole week.” As time passed, she got accustomed to it.
Nurses have to control their emotions because a lot of patients may not be in the right state of mind and could release their frustrations on them. The professional must remain empathetic.
“Patients always come first. They are always right. Even if you know you are right, you have to put yourself in their shoes,”Maudynn clarified.
Maudlynn is an avid traveler and an active member of several professional organizations. She is so passionate about her job that whenever she is on vacation, she attends nursing events. When her vacation ends, she returns to the states loaded with knowledge and shares it with her team in order to improve their practice. She sees herself helping more people in the long run.
Welcome to Maudlynn’s World
“The day of my graduation, I felt immense pride when I walked across the stage to receive my degree. When I look back on those tough times, I say to myself ‘I did it!!!!’”
“I love my job and take it very seriously. All my patients love me. Some of them come back and visit me at the hospital. I dont see them as patients. They are my family.”
“Who I am at work is how I am outside of work.”
“Having fun outside of work helps me have mental productivity while I’m at work.”
“Success to me is helping others and doing what I love.”
Connect with Maudlynn:
Facebook: Maudlynn RN
LinkedIn: Maudlynn RN
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