Final Reflection Portfolio

Lauren Morris
November 30, 2023
Final Analysis
When I first decided to go to nursing school, I had no idea that I was about to embark on
such a transformative journey. Nursing school has not only equipped me with the knowledge of
medicine and how to care for patients, but it has also instilled values, tested my perseverance,
gifted me relationships that will last a lifetime, and provided me confidence that I never had
before.
Back in 2020, I was a baby nursing student with the bare minimum of knowledge about
nursing care. I worked as a PCT on a medical surgical unit; however, I had dreams of working in
the emergency department. I was so eager to attend our competencies clinical in the
emergency department at Memorial Regional Medical Center. I had no idea what to expect. I
vividly remember the nerves I felt walking through those doors for the first time. There was a
cardiac arrest that came in, and my instructor placed me in the corner of the room to observe.
As the entire team worked seamlessly on this patient, my eyes were wide in awe of the
effectiveness and knowledge of the nursing staff. I barely spoke a word, as I was so anxious and
was too scared to touch anything. I mainly observed the entire day and thought to myself, “how
am I ever going to be able to do any of this!” Although this experience gave me a sense of
purpose, I suffered with a bit of imposter syndrome, as I constantly told myself that I wasn’t the
type of person who could become successful in the emergency room. I saw the emergency
room staff as rockstars and saw myself no better than a fly on the wall. I always had a voice in
the back of my head telling me that I am too clumsy, too disorganized, and not good enough to
become successful.
If only I could tell that past version of myself that I would not only become an advanced
ED tech but also become hired as a new grad nurse in that very same emergency room—but
then I wouldn’t have stumbled my way through finding my place in the healthcare world for the
couple of years in between. It is no secret that I have spent more time at BSMCON than the
average student in this nursing program. I had to medically withdraw at the very end of my
second semester due to exacerbation of my OCD and depression. I spent a considerable
amount of time working on my mental health and the faculty at the school supported me and
cheered me on the entire time. When I came back, I felt like I was finally on track and had an
incredible sense of self-worth, but then my mother died unexpectedly. I took a semester off to
grieve, and honestly the grief hasn’t gone away. I don’t think it ever will. Learning to navigate
the robust course load that nursing school brings was a significant challenge—again with the
support of my peers and faculty, I rose above and became active in the school community. As
vice president of the Student Nurses’ Association as well as a college ambassador and college
buddy, I found my voice and began exploring leadership roles that are important to healthcare.
As my confidence in my nursing care grew, my relationships with my peers expanded.
My peers pushed me to pursue my dream and conquer my fear of working in the emergency
department. I took the leap and immersed myself into learning everything I could to be the best
I could be. Flash forward to this semester, I was placed in the same emergency room for my
immersion clinical hours. Towards the end of my immersion, a cardiac arrest came in and was
assigned to my preceptor and I. For a split second, I had a wave of overwhelming fear and
doubt in myself, however I brushed that aside, focused on what I knew, and decided how to
best care for this patient. I found myself becoming one of those rockstars I observed a few
years back. I was a part of the team, communicating, administering medications, documenting,
and assisting in resuscitation. After the code, I was emotional because that was the point in
which I realized that I had grown significantly—not only in my nursing knowledge and skills, but
as person. Nursing school has gifted me confidence and an extreme sense of purpose and I am
so happy with the person that I am today because of it. I am still clumsy and disorganized, but I
am good enough to be successful in the nursing world because of the skills and knowledge
BSMCON has instilled in me.
Assessment of situations, attentiveness for detail, and advocacy of patients are all areas
of strength that I have seen exponentially improve throughout my clinical hours, and I can’t
wait to improve on them some more as a nurse. As a new grad nurse, there are many areas for
growth. Timeliness, time management, and workflow are all something I heavily worked on
throughout immersion and still need to work on as I progress. These are skills I expect to
improve with time.
Overall, I am exceptionally proud of the work I have done on myself, academically, and
in this program. I am eager for my future as a nurse and can’t wait to see what becomes of it. I
am forever grateful for Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing for giving me lifelong
knowledge and memories that I will take with me in my nursing practice.

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Lauren Morris

November 30, 2023

second semester due to exacerbation of my OCD and depression. I spent a considerable

As my confidence in my nursing care grew, my relationships with my peers expanded.

BSMCON has instilled in me.

improve with time.

knowledge and memories that I will take with me in my nursing practice.

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