Congratulations to Nicole who graduated from the Psychiatric Nursing Program! We thank her for her hard work on the blog and wish her the best of luck in her new career. Questions and comments will now be disabled. Please watch out for a new Psychiatric Nursing Student Blogger in the near future!
Hi Everyone!
It’s hard to believe that we are already into August, which means I’m almost halfway through my program. Wow, does time ever fly! I’ve taken to bringing my books out onto the deck with me, or even down to the beach, as sitting in front of the computer all day in 30°+ weather is not my style!
For this blog, I wanted to write more about my inspirations for becoming a RPN. I have mentioned before that I struggled as a young child with depression and anxiety. I missed out on a lot of things that most people would constitute as parts of a “normal” childhood; play dates with friends, sleepovers, and school fieldtrips… life as a kid for me was not always carefree and fun. When I was 12 years old, my Grandma passed away, and I began to struggle immensely with my mental health. I was referred to a child psychiatrist and met weekly with his psychiatric nurse, MJ. For about three years she counselled me, and in a nutshell, changed my life. She taught me the many ways of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), and I now know it like the back of my hand. It is something I truly believe in and will put into use with future clients. But most importantly, she listened to me. She understood me, and helped me to overcome my struggles and better my mental health. We lost touch for a few years, but wound up reuniting one random summer day. Since meeting up again, we have shared many more journeys together. She is the one who recommended the program to me, and encouraged me to follow my passion and help to change peoples’ lives. Without her guidance and motivation, I would not be who I am or where I am today!
My Mom is another equally significant person who helped me turn things around for the better. She is my biggest supporter, and gave so much of her love, her energy, and her strength to help me. Although we are almost complete opposites, we are attached at the hip! When I was ill, she never left my side, not during all those years it took before I became well again. All the trips to the hospital, visits to the doctors, and years of misdiagnoses, she never broke down, and never stopped fighting for me. She is the most loving, giving, incredible person I know (ok, maybe I am a bit biased!). My happiness, my mental wellness, and my successes are owed to this wonderful woman I am proud and delighted to call my Mom. She has changed my life in more ways than words can describe.
Now you all know a bit more about my inspirations for choosing this career path. Changing myself in order to better my mental health is by far the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. I have been blessed with some very amazing people in my life; and thanks to them, I am a student psychiatric nurse halfway through an incredibly exciting journey!
Take the time to ask yourself why you might be passionate about Psychiatric Nursing!
