User:MellyWhite

From the time I was a little girl, it seems that my main mission in life was to help others. Maybe it was for selfish reasons, because the part I enjoyed most was the pride and satisfaction that I felt after having done a good deed. As I grew and matured, I began to direct my humanitarian efforts specifically towards helping sick people. When I was in junior high, I managed to weasel myself into the nurses office to work as a volunteer nurse’s assistant. This job mostly involved directing the sickly students to the designated nurse’s station and keeping them calm until the school nurse was able to tend to them. Every once in a while, I had the pleasure of putting some antiseptic ointment and a band aid on a student’s scraped knee. This was very exciting to me, and by then I knew that someday I was going to wear one of those white nurse’s caps and possibly even have an assistant of my own.

When I entered high school, I wasn’t lucky enough to land a gig in the nurse’s office. However, I did not let this deter me. I found a nearby convalescent home which was more than grateful to allow me the opportunity to volunteer there a few days a week after school. My job mostly involved helping to feed some of the patients, sitting by their bedsides, and pushing them around the grounds in their wheelchairs to give them a little fresh air and a much needed change of scenery. This work was very satisfying to me, and I like to think that I actually made a difference in the lives of many of them.

After graduating high school, I was accepted into Louisiana State University. I spent my first semester taking preliminary courses and during that time I applied for the nursing program. I was accepted into the program and began a full course of nurse’s studies by my second semester. I was on my way to becoming a registered nurse. While working on my nursing degree, I volunteered at another convalescent home. At first, I was only allowed to perform the same duties as I had previously done; but after I had completed the first two years of my studies, I was able to assist with changing and cleaning the patients. Every once in a while, I was asked to give an injection to a patient. This was an amazing experience for me, and I loved every minute of it.

After graduating from the nurse’s program, I was officially a registered nurse. This title came with the little white cap that I had been dreaming about for years. I landed a job at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and for the first time in my life, I was making real money doing the thing that I loved; and on top of that, I could now be totally independent. Because Charity Hospital is a “teaching hospital,” after I worked there for 6 years I was offered a teaching position. I eagerly accepted because I couldn’t wait to pass on the knowledge that I had attained over the years to others who were passionate about the field of nursing.

The years that I spent in nursing education were more rewarding than I had imagined them to be. I loved mentoring up and coming health professionals and made so many friends along the way. I spent countless hours at home working on new teaching methods that would make the learning experience a pleasure. I do believe that I have touched a few lives as a nursing educator. I certainly enhanced my own.