My name is Kelly Korb: a year in reflection, a time of growth

This usually proceeds "and I'm a Berea College student nurse. How are you doing?" I still remember walking into my first patient's room in a smelly (good smelling) nursing home. Mouth dry, sweaty palms, knot in stomach, hobbling in a big ol' boot for my ankle, just choking for the words to say. And to think, I was going to be doing this for a living.

Then I blinked. 

It's unreal to me how fast the time has gone. I mean, really. I remember my first day waking up, groaning "oh my GOSH. It's so early! I don't want to get up this early once a week." Well shoot. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I mentally and physically prepare myself for 18-19 hour days; up at 5, usually in bed around 10-11. Week by week, up, clinicals, repeat. Twice a week. I will soon shortly experience evening clinicals (YAY SLEEPING IN ON TUESDAYS). Ok, enough after that commercial break. Gosh. When I sit and try to think of what I have seen, done, learned, experienced, it's been....an amazing ride. 

Six rotations (soon to be eight at the end of the month), ranging from the young to the very old, and surprisingly only two skills we have learned that I have NOT done yet (NG tube placement and trach care). You know what, in my book, that's not a bad bunch of skills to have tucked in under your belt. Or your scrubs. Insert other bad nursing joke here. Again, when I think about all I've gained other than skills wise, it's endless. I've gained trust in myself, trust in other people that I don't know, confidence I never thought I had, several "aha!!" moments, humility, relationships and good conversations with complete strangers that make me laugh, cry and thank God why I'm going into a profession such as this. 

Yeah, I complain a lot. I groan a lot about getting up early, and sometimes the work is tedious. Most days I don't even get a "thank you," and then sometimes I get a "thank you so much, baby doll." Even though I do not get the verbal gratification, you can see it. You can feel it. And that's something you have to acquire just by being in the field and exposed to it. Sometimes...you're really not a nurse at all. Sometimes....

I'm a dentist who takes the extra time before my lunch to swab a dry mouth; I'm the confidant when a drug-dependent patient in a psych facility tells me "I don't know what I was thinking:" I'm the opportunist when a quadriplegic patient in the nursing home not only flirts, but inspires to just not take things for granted; I'm the long-lost friend to the lonely former nurse who just wants someone to talk to; I'm the one who has to say "I know you don't like it but it's helping you" to the 4-year old who doesn't understand where the hot pink deformity came from; I'm the one who joins in in prayer before surgery as a temporary family member; I'm the one who says "you're welcome," even when just walking in to say hello. Gratitude. Greatness. Devotion. Appreciation. Dedication. Heart. Soul. Being. Doing. Serving. 

To close, I am going to enclose something I actually found on the wall of the bathroom today. It inspired me and I hope it inspires all of you. It's been a scary but awesome year so far. Here's to one more year and many more. 

Attributes of Excellence

1. Make a commitment to grow daily

2. Value the process more than the events

3. Don't wait for inspiration

4. Be willing to sacrifice pleasure for opportunity

5. Dream big

6. Plan your priorities

7. Give up to go up