A positive aspect of nursing school is the large amount of hands-on opportunities we have.  I have had clincal experiences at Centennial Medical Center Intensive Care Unit, Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital, NHC, a long-term care facility, and Middle Tennnesee Medical Center.  In these clinicals, I provided one-on one nursing care, administered medications, and have become more comfortable in my nursing skills.

     During the summer of 2008 I completed a 10-week nursing externship through the Student Nurse Extern Program through Sentara Healthcare Systems, in which I acted as the primary nurse on a postoperative medical floor.  In this experience I became more indepent in delivering care to my patients.  I obtained skills including foley catheter insertion, naso-gastric tube care, IV insertion, pain managent, surgical incison care, dressing changes, wound-vac usage, and time management.  This program enhanced my knowledge greatly and has been an important component of the care I am now able to provide to my patients.