Captains Blog: Day 8

I will go back to blogging to you don’t have to here all of the “ummms” in my vlogs.  Something I might need to work on.

I had to add this photo because I think it really sums up how I feel about this experience.  This week has been full of generosity.  Kayla, the nurse educator at Cherokee, took time out of her schedule to give us tours, teach us, and answer questions.  She even gave us feedback on our cover letters that we wrote to her before the trip.  She nicknamed me "the planner" which really seemed appropriate.  I don't know that she realizes how appreciative I felt about that feedback, it is really something that people do not give you feedback on and it is very helpful for any future endeavors that I might have.   Kayla was not the only generous person we met, really there were so many people that we met that took time out of their day to provide us with some type of learning.  Learning about the health system not only in Cherokee Indian Hospital, but at Mission Hospital too makes me feel hopeful for this culture.  The Cherokee natives have so many health issues ranging from chronic issues like diabetes to mental health issues like addiction.  I think that the changes they have/are making with patient centered care will really result in healthier happier people and hopefully the future for Cherokee people will flurish.

One of my goals for this trip was to allow myself to be vulnerable.  I think that I did a good job of being a yes person so that I could get everything I could out of this experience.  One of the hardest things by far was going to church.  I was uncomfortable and really did not agree with anything that the pastor preached about, in fact, it was a lot like more sermons from my childhood.  What I did learn from that experience was that nothing has really changed in the last 35 years in old southern baptist churches, and its ok that I don't agree with it.  If the church helps people then that is all that matters.  They provide some nice services for the community and that is a blessing. 

This trip was so much more than I had imagined it to be.  I learned so much, more than I could ever learn in a book.  Real life experiences will always be better than the knowledge that you get from a book.   I felt a rainbow of emotions and because of that I feel like I know where I belong.  Not only was I able to experience so much learning, I was able to bond with 10 women that I never would have bonded with on that level.  I made some friends and memories that will last a lifetime. 
I always struggle a little when someone asks be what kind of nurse I plan to be, well my answer is...the best nurse that I can be.