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I chose this topic because my mental health rotation opened my eyes to the heart of nursing, building genuine human connections. Working at Ontario Shores showed me that beyond assessments and care plans, it’s the relationships we form with our patients that make the biggest difference. This experience taught me how important it is to be present, listen deeply, and engage with patients beyond their diagnosis.

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This topic is personal for me as both a nurse and a mother. My postpartum clinical experiences helped me see how vital it is to support new mothers not just physically, but emotionally and culturally. I chose this topic because it highlighted how postpartum care extends beyond clinical tasks, it’s about empowering mothers during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.

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I selected this topic because working in the NICU challenged me to reflect on the unique needs of vulnerable populations. It was not just about caring for critically ill infants, it was about advocating for families, fostering connection in high-pressure situations, and recognizing that compassion is as crucial as clinical competence. This experience deepened my understanding of family-centered care. I also chose to include my Heart of Knowing gallery art for this topic because it represents how I came to see advocacy and relational care as central to nursing, especially when supporting families in vulnerable situations. The NICU taught me that nursing is both a clinical role and a human one, where empathy and advocacy must work hand in hand.

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I chose this topic because learning how to communicate therapeutically changed the way I approached patient care. In mental health nursing, I learned that words are not always the most important part, presence, empathy, and trust-building matter even more. This topic pushed me to reflect on how intentional communication can shape meaningful relationships with patients.

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This topic is the most personal to me. Balancing the demands of nursing school with the realities of being a new mom taught me resilience, patience, and how to manage emotional labor both at home and in clinical settings. I chose this topic because it reflects how my personal life and professional growth have shaped each other and how both roles have made me a stronger, more compassionate nurse.

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Artifact 1: Ontario Shores Building Photo

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Artifact 1: Ontario Shores Building Photo

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Every time I walked into Ontario Shores, I carried both nervousness and curiosity. It was inside those walls that I learned mental health nursing wasn’t just about clinical interventions — it was about building trust with people who often felt unheard. This experience taught me that showing up consistently, with an open heart, was one of the most powerful tools I had as a future nurse.

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Artifact 2: Ontario Shores Student ID Badge

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Artifact 2: Ontario Shores Student ID Badge

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Wearing this badge made me feel like I belonged to something bigger than myself. It marked a time when I stepped out of my comfort zone and faced the stigma around mental health head-on. I learned how relational care begins with respecting each client’s story — seeing them as more than a diagnosis — and that’s something I’ll carry with me into every nursing role.

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Working on the postpartum unit was deeply personal for me, I had been in those moms’ shoes not long before my rotation. Being able to provide care, even simple words of encouragement, felt full circle. I realized that postpartum care isn’t just about physical recovery but about validating a mother’s emotions, fears, and triumphs. That human connection made me want to advocate for new moms beyond just clinical care.

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Artifact 2: Postpartum Meal (Tinola) Photo

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Artifact 2: Postpartum Meal (Tinola) Photo

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This photo of Tinola means more to me than just food, it represents healing, comfort, and cultural connection. As a Filipino, I know how food plays a role in postpartum recovery. It reminded me that as nurses, we need to honor cultural practices in care because they hold emotional and spiritual value for families. This reflection taught me to always ask and listen before assuming what a patient needs.

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Walking into the NICU, I felt both awe and heartbreak. These tiny babies taught me that nursing is as much about delicate care as it is about fierce advocacy. I learned that our role includes supporting families through moments of fear and uncertainty, that our calm presence can bring hope in the hardest times.

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Artifact 2: “Heart of Knowing” – Art Gallery Project

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Artifact 2: “Heart of Knowing” – Art Gallery Project

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I included my Heart of Knowing gallery art in this topic because it symbolizes how I came to understand advocacy and relational care while working with vulnerable populations in the NICU. This artwork reflects my personal growth in recognizing that beyond clinical tasks, nursing requires a deep connection with both patients and families — especially in moments of uncertainty and fear. It represents the emotional and relational heart of nursing that I want to carry forward in my practice.

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Artifact 1: Mental Health Unit Photo at Ontario Shores

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Artifact 1: Mental Health Unit Photo at Ontario Shores

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This unit became a space where I learned that listening — really listening — could change everything. I had moments where a patient simply needed me to sit with them in silence or validate their feelings. Those experiences taught me that presence, patience, and genuine care often matter more than any clinical skill.

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Artifact 2: Mental Health Rotation Classmates Group Photo

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Artifact 2: Mental Health Rotation Classmates Group Photo

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We entered this rotation nervous, unsure of what to expect, but we came out stronger together. Sharing patient stories, discussing challenging moments, and reflecting with my peers helped me realize that therapeutic communication isn’t only with patients, it happens with colleagues too. These relationships gave me confidence and reminded me that support systems in nursing are essential.

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Artifact 1: Study Table with Baby Items Photo

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Artifact 1: Study Table with Baby Items Photo

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This photo tells the story of my reality, studying while caring for my baby. It represents the constant balancing act I’ve had to navigate. Through this, I’ve learned resilience, time management, and grace with myself. It made me realize that being a mother actually strengthened my empathy and deepened my understanding of holistic care in nursing.

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Artifact 2: Previous Podcast Project Photo (Being a Student Mom)

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Artifact 2: Previous Podcast Project Photo (Being a Student Mom)

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Creating this podcast was a way for me to reflect and be honest about my struggles and growth. Sharing my story gave me the courage to embrace vulnerability, which I now see as a strength in nursing. It reminded me that every nurse brings their own story into practice, and that our personal experiences are valid tools for connection and advocacy.

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Combining academic studies with family life: Insights from ultra-orthodox nursing student-mothers with four or
more children

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Emotional labor and job satisfaction among nurses: The mediating effect of nurse–patient relationship

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Conceptualizing healthcare professionals’ relational competence in mental healthcare: An integrative review

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Exploring the therapeutic relationship through the reflective practice of nurses in acute mental health units: A qualitative study

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Mother-Infant Bonding and Its Associated Factors Among Mothers in the Postpartum Period, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021

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Advanced Level Nursing Practice and Care of Pregnant and Postnatal Women

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Artifact 3: Maternal Rotation Team Group Photo

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Artifact 3: Maternal Rotation Team Group Photo

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This photo reminds me that nursing is never a solo journey. My team became a source of strength , we learned from each other, shared vulnerable moments, and supported one another. This experience showed me the importance of collaboration, not just for safe patient care but for personal growth as a nurse.

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Family-centered Care in NICU

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Addressing the Needs of Mothers with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis

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Implementation of Simulation: A Contemporary Strategy to Enhance Clinical Skills of Undergraduate Students in Mental Health Nursing

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Relational inquiry approach for developing deeper awareness of patient suffering

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This project represents my personal and professional journey as a nursing student and a new mother. Through my clinical experiences in mental health and maternal-child nursing, I discovered that nursing goes far beyond tasks and interventions — it’s deeply relational work. I chose these five topics because each one challenged me, shaped me, and reminded me of the power of human connection in care. Whether I was building trust with patients, supporting new mothers, advocating for NICU families, learning how to communicate therapeutically, or balancing the demands of motherhood and nursing school, I kept coming back to the heart of nursing — showing up with empathy, presence, and curiosity. This Padlet and podcast reflect how these experiences helped me grow into the kind of nurse I aspire to be — one who leads with heart and never stops reflecting on how to care better.

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Beyene, L. S., Strand, E. B., Misund, A. R., Barder, H. E., Brente, T. L., & Størksen, H. T. (2024). Conceptualizing healthcare professionals’ relational competence in mental healthcare: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 7, 100266.

Tolosa-Merlos, D., Moreno-Poyato, A. R., González-Palau, F., Pérez-Toribio, A., Casanova-Garrigós, G., & Delgado-Hito, P. (2023). Exploring the therapeutic relationship through the reflective practice of nurses in acute mental health units: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(1–2), 253–263.

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Hailemeskel, H. S., Kebede, A. B., Fetene, M. T., & Dagnaw, F. T. (2022). Mother-infant bonding and its associated factors among mothers in the postpartum period, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 893505.

Royal College of Nursing. (2024). Advanced level nursing practice and care of pregnant and postnatal women (2nd ed.). Royal College of Nursing.

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Jacob, T. A. (2017). Family centered care in the NICU [Bachelor’s thesis, Arcada University of Applied Sciences].

Kim, A. R. (2020). Addressing the needs of mothers with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit: A qualitative secondary analysis. Asian Nursing Research, 14(4), 327–337.

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Farooq, S., Tharani, A., Begum, S., & Parpio, Y. (2020). Implementation of simulation: A contemporary strategy to enhance clinical skills of undergraduate students in mental health nursing. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(8), 736–740.

Younas, A. (2020). Relational inquiry approach for developing deeper awareness of patient suffering. Nursing Ethics, 27(4), 935–945.

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Glick, L., & Finkelstein, A. (2024). Combining academic studies with family life: Insights from ultra-orthodox nursing student-mothers with four or more children. Heliyon, 10(11), e40422.

Xu, Y.-w., & Fan, L. (2023). Emotional labor and job satisfaction among nurses: The mediating effect of nurse–patient relationship. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1094358.