Marylou Bryan, RN
Baccalaureate Nursing Graduate of Old Dominion University 

Developing Educational and Professional Goals

NURS 401

Old Dominion University

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          My journey to nursing was not the typical one. I did not grow up picturing myself as a nurse. I never thought I had what it took to be that dedicated. When I was twenty-six years old, I was pregnant with my second child when my husband, at that time, was hit by a drunk driver and dragged seventy-five feet up the highway under the car. The doctors gave him 2% chance of surviving. I didn’t realize that meant he probably wouldn’t make it, today I understand. He did survive. Unknowingly, I was his personal nurse. I did things I never thought I would ever do. I will never forget the nurses in the hospital, they truly saved his life and mine.  Our marriage fell apart after his recovery and we went our separate ways. Even after that experience I couldn’t picture myself as a nurse. I remarried, had a couple more children, and pursued a career as a graphics artist for the military. As life would have it, my new husband was diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in 2000, which ultimately lead me into nursing.

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            A close family friend suggested I get into the field. I was apprehensive to say the least.  But I said my prayers and started my nursing career as a certified nursing assistant in a long-term care facility which offered classes if you worked for them after the class was completed. I took my state exam and earned my CNA in 2002. I was seeing a counselor during this period, she and the nurse at the clinic suggested I go to the community college for a nursing degree. It was another leap of faith. So, I took the entrance exams and enter the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Lord Fairfax Community College in 2003. My first semester, my husband past away, my second semester, my mother past away and my oldest son had a serious motor cycle accident, which he survived. I dropped out of school. The next semester I couldn’t return to the LPN program due to class scheduling so I started on my prerequisites for the RN program. I reentered the LPN program that following year and completed that program. I received my license as a Practical Nurse in 2005. I worked for a year as an LPN then joined the second year RN program at Lord Fairfax and passed my state boards to become a Registered Nurse in 2007. I am grateful for my experience of working up through the ranks as a nurse. Each member of the team is a valuable part of the care and well-being of every patient. I have a deeper sense of compassion as a nurse leader in the working environment due to my understanding of what each nursing team member is juggling during any given shift.

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            I am excited to have yet another opportunity to continue expanding my knowledge as a Registered Nurse. My educational goals are to improve my use and understanding of technology by developing a broader comprehension of how technology impacts the nursing profession today. Also, to expand my critical thinking skills as related to patient-centered care and the evolving healthcare industry. Currently, I am working in a detox/rehabilitation unit with recovering addicts and alcoholics. Psychological issues impact many of the individuals who are working on recovery from these deadly diseases. I hope to expand my knowledge base regarding mental health and industry standards as related to addictive medicine.

           

             Professionally, I have been exposed to a variety of nursing environments.  Just to name a few I have worked in long term care skilled nursing unit, med-surge in the hospital, EDCD/ID Medicaid waiver, Medicare skilled visiting home health, and in a detox center. I am a trainer of CNA's, PCA's, and Med techs. I aspire to become a Case Manager and believe my continuing education will open doors of opportunity to advance my career into a management role.

           

           Over the years I have learned to hang in there and keep my eyes on the ball. I have become flexible and learned to redirect when life throws me a curve. Early in my career I would get anxious about what I needed to do next on the job. I have missed details, I believe, due to not listening or not asking enough questions. I have had to work at developing my listening and mirroring skills.  I attempt to stay focused, take good notes, and repeat details back during report, as to not miss or forget anything. The development of these skills has brought me closer to my patients and given me insight into how I can directly influence them to adjust behaviors which might be adding to their acute or chronic disease processes.  I make every effort not to approach a patient with an attitude of superiority, but with one of familiarity which seems to put them at ease and helps them to hear me too. I also try to take care of myself, not to over extend. Some of the best nurses I have worked with over the years took good care of themselves physically, mentally and spiritually. I have seen to many examples of nurses with burnout from the pressures of the job and don't want to end my career that way. I know it can happen to any nurse by taking on too many responsibilities.

             

            Through this introspection I can see I have taken the long way around to become a nurse and still have a long way to go. Being a nurse has given me new life. It has expanded my knowledge in ways I could never have imagined if I hadn’t lived it. I look forward to improving my skills using technology. I anticipate developing a new understanding of patient centered care and the practical implementation of that knowledge. I want to continue improving on my communication and leadership skills as to move into management. I would like to be a positive motivating example to others coming into the nursing profession. I am excited about all the possibilities out there in the future. I want to become the best nurse I can possibly be to help the community in which I live become the best it can be too.    

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