The road to nursing is more complex than most . Although there ’ s plenty of support along the way , I know I will travel alone . Why on earth would anyone choose the harder road ?
That was essentially my thought as I took the entrance exams to qualify for an RN program . But I knew the answer then . Almost 3 years later , that answer has not changed , only refined itself . I chose the harder road because it was the most appropriate one for me . If I had to do something that applied my brainpower to improve the world in a practical way , something that not only required a higher level of functioning but a means to be proactive in people ’ s lives in a holistic manner , then it was going to be nursing .
The reason I say it ’ s a harder road is because I ’ ve traveled easier ones . As an arts major , I found that journey to be relatively easy . As a fine arts student , I was only cultivating things that were inside me all along , just refining pre-existing talents and interests I ’ d had since childhood . Art school was simple , and success came naturally .
Nursing is on a whole different planet . Before entering nursing , I already knew I possessed empathy traits . I enjoyed and excelled at the bedside manner , which is more of a soft skill , something not necessarily teachable or learnable ( although those who have it know that it ’ s everything ). I had certain expectations going into nursing that , I ’ m sure , many of us have had , many of them erroneously light-hearted , some even failing to understand that a nurse is a scientist . The stereotype that we derive from movies , books , and television shows reflects little if anything of the real-world nurse .
A seasoned student knows the difference . As that scientist , I must become , essentially , a warehouse of intricate , complicated information . I must become fluent with medication administration , facility protocols , state laws , ethics , communication skills , technical and mechanical skills , IT skills , and so on . I must be able to apply all that knowledge safely and
I Will Become a Nurse — There is No Plan B By Tanisha Adams-Johnston
40 NSNA IMPRINT • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 • www . nsna . org
appropriately to save lives and sometimes protect my own . And I must learn to accept that my role is , in fact , vital .
The vital role of nursing taught me a plethora of lessons not only about nursing but also about myself . I remember once asking one of my clinical professors , “ So when do you actually become confident as a nurse ?” She responded , “ Never . But you ’ ll grow more confident as an individual . You ’ ll grow stronger as a person .” Three years down the road now , I smile at what she said , and I agree . It isn ’ t simply winning the career in the end , but a path to self-actualization . I am a nursing student who sustains life , eases pain , educates , and advises . These are enormous responsibilities that rely on the ability to grasp the reigns and expertly steer . Once I realized that I could do that , there ’ s a shift toward realizing that I can accomplish everything I set my heart and mind to : If I can grow a nursing seed , I can grow anything .
That ’ s why I ’ m taking the path that may seem frightening or impossible to some . There are easier paths — Plans B , C , and D , all the way to Z . But I ’ m not looking at those because Plan A has helped me to discover and appreciate who and what I am . I never expected that going in , so I ’ m positively reinforced that there is no Plan B , and I ’ ve no regrets with my decision . There ’ s plenty of hardship and frustration ( the struggle is real ), but also some victories and even some fun . So , let the road be hard . I ’ ll continue the journey anticipating a registered nurse license and an actualized self once I reach my destination . As for any roads after that , time and my inner GPS will tell .
Tanisha Adams-Johnston is a third year second level nursing student at Community College of Beaver County , Monaca / Beaver , PA . She is a published author of poetry , fiction , and illustration . When she is not studying , she is either painting and drawing , writing , or playing a video game .