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For the first half of my clinical rotations I am placed on Sanford 2000, which is a surgical trauma floor. The unit cares for patients recovering from a variety of surgeries and traumas, so it’s a busy, fast paced environment with a mix of different cases. I’ve really enjoyed my time here so far and feel like each week brings something new to learn.

This week my assigned patient was an older woman admitted with right upper quadrant pain. After imaging, the team found stones, and she’s scheduled to have an ERCP later this week. She was fairly stable during my shift, which meant I didn’t have a ton of direct tasks with her, but it gave me the chance to jump in and help with other patients and to sit in on some different procedures happening around the floor.

One of the Honors values I connected with this week was Academic Quality. Since I wasn’t constantly busy with my own patient, I tried to take the time to learn. I asked my nurse about the ERCP procedure what it is, why it’s needed, and what recovery usually looks like. I also reviewed my patient’s labs and chart to connect everything together. It reminded me that even on the slower days, I can still take initiative to learn and grow by asking questions and applying class content to real situations.

Collaboration was another value I noticed. With extra time, I was able to help out on the floor by answering call lights, assisting with turns, and shadowing nurses during different tasks. I liked being able to support the team in small ways, and it was clear how much patient care depends on everyone working together.

Finally, I’ve started to feel a real sense of Community on this unit. The nurses know me now and go out of their way to include me, whether it’s inviting me to watch a procedure or encouraging me after trying something new. Those little interactions make me feel like I’m part of the team, which helps me feel more confident each shift.

Overall, even though this particular patient was stable, I still left clinicals feeling like I learned a lot. Some days are more about direct care, while others are about observing, asking questions, and pitching in where you can. Either way, I’m starting to see how the Honors values show up in real time during my clinical experience.

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This week I cared for a 60-year-old man admitted with gangrene of his scrotum. His wound stretched from his scrotum to his rectum and he had a wound VAC in place. He was in a lot of pain, about a 7 out of 10, and needed frequent meds like Dilaudid, Ativan, and Norco. Even with all of that, he was surprisingly pleasant to interact with. It really made me think about the value of Wellbeing, because so much of my time with him was focused on making sure his pain was managed and that he was as comfortable as possible. I realized that even when we can’t “fix” everything, we can still help improve a patient’s quality of life in the moment.

This patient also made me reflect on Ethics and Integrity. He had uncontrolled diabetes, multiple toe amputations, and continued to smoke. Honestly, it was hard not to judge those choices when I could see how much they contributed to his condition. But nursing isn’t about deciding who is “deserving” of care it’s more about treating every patient with respect. I had to remind myself that my role was to care for him where he was at, not to dwell on what he could have done differently. That was a really eye-opening moment for me.

Finally, I saw the importance of Community this week. The teamwork between the nurses, providers, and techs was huge in managing his care, from wound management to pain control. As a student, I felt like I was part of that community too, even in small ways, and it showed me how much better patient outcomes are when everyone works together.

Overall, this week pushed me to think beyond the medical details. It reminded me how central Wellbeing, Ethics and Integrity, and Community are in nursingnot just as Honors values, but as things I need to carry with me into my future practice.

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This week I cared for an older adult who needed close monitoring, consistent pain control, and simple, calm explanations. I focused on listening first, then building a plan that matched what they could handle that day. That helped me lean into Academic Quality because I had to connect the assessment, the meds, and the timing of care with what I was actually seeing. I checked orders, verified indications, and did quick reassessments to see if anything needed to change. It reminded me that good nursing is not just what I know, it is how I use it at the bedside.

I also saw a big difference when the whole team pulled in the same direction. Collaboration, Integration, and Broader View showed up in the little moments. I synced pain meds with mobility so therapy could get more done. I updated the CNA on turning and SCD checks so nothing was missed. I asked the pharmacist a quick question so I could explain a med in plain language later. Those small check ins made the day smoother for the patient and for us.

There was an Ethics and Integrity moment for me too. The unit was busy and I could feel myself wanting to rush through education. I stopped, asked what mattered most to the patient right now, and we picked two key points to focus on. I used teach back and documented exactly what was covered and how they responded. It felt good to slow down and do it right instead of just getting it done.

Overall, this week pushed me to think in a more steady and intentional way. Academic Quality kept me grounded in safe practice, Collaboration helped the plan actually work, and Ethics and Integrity kept the care honest and patient centered. I am taking that with me into next week.

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This week marked my final clinical in my acute care rotation before moving on to OB next week. My patient was a woman admitted with a wound on her buttocks, where a wound VAC had been placed. She was very kind and easy to talk to, which made the day go smoothly. Her main concern was nutrition. She has lost around twenty pounds during her hospital stay, and since she’s on bed rest, it’s been difficult for her to keep her appetite up or maintain proper nutrition. Along with that, she has a history of diabetes and hypertension, so her dietary options are already somewhat limited.

This patient really made me think about the Honors value of Wellbeing. Her case showed how physical healing isn’t just about wound care or medications it also relies on nutrition, emotional health, and motivation. Seeing how her appetite loss affected her progress reminded me that healing is a whole-body process, and small things like encouraging her to eat or discussing what foods sound good can make a big difference. I spent time talking with her about how nutrition supports wound healing, and I could tell she appreciated having someone take the time to explain it in a way she could understand.

I also reflected on Community, especially within the healthcare team. My nurse preceptor, the wound care nurse, and the dietitian all collaborated to support this patient’s healing process. It was a great example of how teamwork directly impacts patient outcomes. I got to observe how the team adjusted her plan based on her nutritional needs and wound status, and it made me appreciate how connected all of these roles are in acute care.

Lastly, this experience tied into Ethics and Integrity. It’s easy for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes to get discouraged or lose motivation, but as nurses, we have an ethical duty to treat every patient with empathy and honesty. Even when progress feels slow, showing kindness and maintaining respect can make a lasting impact. This final week reminded me that nursing is not only about performing tasks but also about building trust and helping patients regain hope in their recovery journey.

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This week was my first day in the OB rotation, and I was placed on the postpartum unit. It honestly felt like stepping into a completely different world compared to my acute and med surg experiences. My nurse and I had four patients, but in OB, you quickly realize that four patients really means eight since you are caring for both the mother and the baby. It was a lot to adjust to at first, but it was also fascinating to see how maternal and newborn care are so closely connected.

The patient I was assigned to was a 23-year-old woman who came in with preeclampsia with severe features. She ended up having her membranes artificially ruptured and gave birth preterm at 30.2 weeks. Her baby weighed only 2 pounds and 7 ounces and was immediately taken to the NICU. Seeing how tiny and fragile that baby was really hit me. It made the concept of Wellbeing feel more real than ever because of how crucial it is to care for both the physical and emotional health of mothers during such a vulnerable time. My patient was recovering, but you could tell her heart was in that NICU. Supporting her meant not just managing her vitals and medications, but also being a compassionate presence.

I also found myself reflecting on Academic Quality because OB care involves a completely new set of knowledge such as medications like magnesium sulfate, postpartum assessments, fundal checks, lochia stages, and lactation education. It is not like anything I have done before, so I was constantly thinking back to what I have learned in class and trying to apply it in real time.

Lastly, I saw the value of Collaboration throughout the day. The teamwork between nurses, lactation consultants, and NICU staff was amazing. Everyone worked together seamlessly to support both mom and baby, and it reminded me how vital communication and coordination are in nursing care.

Overall, this first OB day was eye opening. It is such a unique mix of emotions including joy, anxiety, and exhaustion, and it made me realize that being a nurse in this setting requires not just skill but also heart.

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This week I was back at Sanford Birthplace for my observation day, and it ended up being really eye-opening. I spent the first half of the day in Labor and Delivery and the second half in the NICU. Labor and Delivery was honestly pretty slow. My patient was a primigravida, so it was her very first pregnancy, and she was only 0 centimeters dilated. She was on oxytocin, so she had to be a one-on-one patient, which meant I basically sat with her most of the morning and made sure she was doing okay. I straight cathed her once, which was one of the few hands-on things I got to do. Even though not much was happening, it was kind of nice to just slow down and really focus on what one-on-one patient care feels like being there, checking in, offering reassurance, and paying attention to all the little details.

The NICU in the afternoon was a completely different experience. I got to see a set of twins, one of them had Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), and they were di/di twins, so they each had their own placenta and amniotic sac. Then there was another baby with a cleft palate who was just being monitored to make sure she could eat okay. The NICU was such a different world. It’s quiet but also intense in its own way. I could really see how the nurses had to think about every single action from how they touch the babies to how they talk to the parents, and that made me think about the Honors value of Diverse Perspectives. Every baby had their own unique story and needs, and every family was going through something different.

I also really saw Community and Wellbeing in action in the NICU. The nurses worked together so smoothly and supported each other constantly, whether it was grabbing supplies or just checking in emotionally. The atmosphere was caring but also incredibly professional. It made me realize how important it is to build that sense of community in nursing, especially in areas that are so emotionally charged. Even though the day started out slow, I walked away with a much deeper appreciation for the teamwork and compassion that go into caring for both moms and babies.

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This week started off a little different than I expected. I began my shift on the postpartum unit, but about thirty minutes in my nurse got called to float down to labor and delivery since they were getting busy. I didn’t mind the change at all because it ended up being one of the most interesting days I’ve had so far.

Our patient was only 18 years old and 23 weeks pregnant. She had been flighted in after her prenatal appointment when her provider couldn’t find the baby’s heart tones. When they finally did, they were in the low 60's, which is really concerning for fetal bradycardia. Once she arrived, we were responsible for watching both her and the baby very closely. Because of how early she was in her pregnancy and since she was flighted in, she was a one on one patient, so we spent the whole day making sure everything stayed stable.

One of the biggest learning moments for me was when I got to give a betamethasone injection. The obstetrician ordered it to help mature the baby’s lungs in case preterm delivery happened. The doctor was hopeful that the baby would stay in longer, but giving that shot was an important precaution. It amazed me how one medication could make such a difference for a preterm baby’s outcome. This moment tied into Academic Quality because I was able to apply what I’ve learned in class to a real situation and understand the reasoning behind the care we provided.

What stood out to me most though was the emotional part of her story. She was so young and didn’t have much family support. She doesn’t live with her parents and instead stays with her boyfriend and his parents, and she mentioned she doesn’t really talk to her own family anymore. It made me realize how much nurses play a role in emotional care too. That connection really reminded me of Wellbeing, because caring for patients means looking after both their physical and emotional health.

This day also reflected Community in such a strong way. Everyone on the team came together to make sure this young mom and her baby were cared for and supported. Watching how the nurses, doctors, and techs communicated and helped one another showed how teamwork in healthcare creates a sense of unity. It reminded me that even though we all have our own roles, we share one common goal, providing the best care possible. Overall, this experience reminded me why I love nursing. It’s about learning, caring, and being there for people when they need it the most.

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For my last week of clinical, I got to go back down to the NICU, and honestly it was the best way to end this rotation. My nurse was assigned one on one to one of a set of preterm twins who were born at 28 weeks. She cared for Twin A while another nurse took Twin B. The twin I was with was intubated and still recovering from a hemothorax he had a few days ago. There was still blood sitting in his lungs, so every little assessment felt delicate and important. Even with all the equipment around him, he would still try to kick his legs or hold onto my finger when I helped with his cares, and it made me forget for a second just how tiny and fragile he really was.

Being in the NICU again reminded me how much academic quality matters here. Nothing is done casually every number on the monitor, every vent change, every medication dose has a purpose. Watching the nurses work made me want to keep building my knowledge and confidence so that one day I could handle situations like that with the same calmness they do. I also saw firsthand how much collaboration and integration shape NICU care. The nurses, RTs, NNPs, and even the parents were constantly communicating and checking in with each other. It didn’t feel like separate roles it felt like one huge team surrounding these babies with everything they could possibly need.

I also found myself thinking a lot about wellbeing, not just for the babies but for the parents and the staff. The emotional weight in the NICU is real. These families are living in this mix of hope and fear every day, and the nurses do such a good job of supporting them while still taking care of themselves so they can show up fully. It reminded me that as a future nurse, my own wellbeing will always be part of the equation too.

What’s funny is that I came into OB clinicals pretty hesitant. I’ve had a negative experience with babies before, and I honestly assumed I wouldn’t enjoy this rotation at all. But the NICU changed that for me. I ended up really loving the atmosphere, the precision, the quiet intensity, and the relationships the nurses build with families. I could even see myself working there one day, which is something I never expected to say. Ending the semester here made this whole rotation feel a lot more meaningful, and I’m really glad I kept an open mind.

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Today was another day on postpartum, and overall it was pretty quiet. My nurse had 3 patients, and 2 of them were doing really well. One had her 2nd baby by section earlier this morning and was recovering smoothly, and another had just had her 4th baby and didn’t need much beyond routine checks. With those two, it felt like a good chance to slow down a little and focus on the basics of postpartum care, which actually helped me reflect a lot on academic quality, because even on calm days, it’s important to stay solid on assessment skills and patient teaching.

My 3rd patient was definitely the one who made me think the most today. She had tested positive for opiates, THC, meth, and cocaine prior to admission and delivered preterm twins. She wants to breastfeed them, but because of her positive drug screen, the hospital cannot allow her to give that milk to her babies. She’s allowed to pump, but she has to dump all of it while she’s here. This situation really opened my eyes to how much nurses have to balance compassion with ethics and integrity. We want to support moms and encourage bonding, but we also have a responsibility to protect the newborns, especially when there is a clear risk of harm. It also made me wonder about what happens after discharge, since there’s nothing physically stopping her from breastfeeding once she leaves unless social services stays involved.

Watching the nurses, the social worker, and the provider work together reminded me of how important collaboration, integration, and broader view are in postpartum care. It truly is a team effort, and every perspective matters when the situation is complicated. Even though the day wasn’t action packed, it really made me appreciate how much thought and coordination goes into caring for families who are facing challenges that go far beyond medical needs.

Today showed me that not every day has to be busy to be meaningful. Sometimes the cases that seem the most complicated aren’t the ones with procedures or emergencies, they’re the ones that make you step back and really think about the kind of nurse you want to be.