Thoughts from My Experience in the Richmond Program

So far my experience in Richmond has been phenomenal. I have had the opportunity to observe several surgeries as well as work on three different units. By the end of my Richmond Experience I will have served on between five or six units, depending on what opportunities open up for us at St. Mary's. These units include Ortho-Joint, Ortho-Spinal, Peds, Ambulatory Operating Room (OR), Oncology, Peds Emergency Department (possibly), and/or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/PICU (possibly). I have absolutely loved working in Richmond. Even though the weekends are intense with minimal sleep and long clinicals, taking care of my patients and learning in a new hospital setting has all been worth it.

For those of you who are worried that the Richmond Program would be too physically taxing for you, let me encourage you that God has provided me with the strength and stamina to complete my paperwork and be fully alert during my clinicals. He provides strength when I am weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).  

This experience has actually helped me to depend more on the Lord for strength than I would if I were completing weekly clinicals in Lynchburg. Because it requires more of me than I feel I can do on my own, I realize that God is the One who is providing my every need. This morning during my devotions I felt like God was leading me to read one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, Philippians 4. In this chapter, verse 13 leaped off the page and captivated my attention because it was applicable to the profound fatigue I felt this morning. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This proves that when I don't feel like I can take another step or have the energy to complete another clinical, God will strengthen me. In verse 19, Paul continues by saying, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This morning I needed supernatural energy just to get out of  bed, but God is always faithful to His promises and provided me with the strength I needed. Not only that, but He also gave me a great day in the unit I was on and allowed me to be a witness to the goodness of the Lord. 

Elsevier Resources

Some of you may already know about the resources available on the Elsevier website; however, I am one of the students who did not realize online practice questions, chapter summaries (called Key Points), and sample nursing diagnoses were available online through Elsevier's website until I was a junior in the nursing program.

Resources I have found particularly helpful to me have been the online practice questions and Key Points for Pharmacology and Medical Surgical Nursing as well as the care plan tools for the Nursing Diagnosis Handbook (Care Plan Constructor). I have recently started using the Care Plan Constructor to guide me in selecting the top three nursing diagnoses for my patient care plans. This tool allows you to match a particular nursing diagnosis to various symptoms, diagnoses, and procedures.

In order to use these resources, you will need to start an account with Elsevier, an opportunity which is completely free of charge. Once you've created an account you can add textbooks to your My Evolve by visiting the Evolve Catalog. Next click on Evolve Resources, enter the name of the book or author of the book you wish to register for (e.g. Fundamentals/Potter and Perry), and click on the book cover you wish to select. Click Register For This Now. The subtotal should be $0.00, so click REDEEM/CHECKOUT. Next click the box to accept the agreement, and hit submit. Resources should then appear for the textbook you selected in the My Evolve section of the website.