My Clinical Experience Essay

1. Interactions with students that focus on their successful development as whole persons.

Teaching encompasses more than just providing classroom information and clinical experience. It involves being a role model and at times a quiet listener as a student works through balancing school, home and work. An effective teacher must exhibit a commitment of caring: understanding what motivates the student, anticipating learning needs, empowering the student to become a self-learner and offering realistic measures to enhance learning. I strive to make my classroom or clinical rotation to be experiences students are challenged by and look forward to attending. The ultimate goal achievement culminated by becoming competent and compassionate practitioners.

One student has described me as the “sugar” (calm reassuring presence) of the program providing a complementary balance with a co-worker described as “spice.” One of the experiences I have been challenged by was providing support for a student who experienced the SIDS death of her 4 month old infant son while in our program. Attending the funeral of the baby was difficult and knowing the heartache and personal challenges this young woman faced was heartbreaking. We never realize how simple listening, a smile, a word of encouragement can impact a student’s life. A letter (2 years later), out of the blue, from this former student thanking me for listening and encouraging her through this experience meant so much to me. She had wanted to quit school and was kind in indicating that my encouragement and just listening gave her a drive to complete the program. Her life is full now with a nursing career, a wonderful Christian husband and a healthy baby girl. Another student, who was unsuccessful in their first attempt in the program, expressed their appreciation of the fact they were not made to feel a failure but encouraged to continue to work toward