Goal #1: Specialize in Rural Nursing and Obtain Tuition Support

I grew up going to my cottage (which is now my house) in the countryside. I would love to take my nursing profession to a rural setting, as that is where I feel most at home. The need for nurses up north is extremely pressing, as hospitals are extremely understaffed and communities underserved. When making the decision as to whether or not I absolutely wanted to go into nursing, the answer was made much clearer when discovering that there is a tuition reimbursement opportunity for people who have grown up and lived in a rural community going into nursing. Essentially, when I become a nurse, if I work in a hospital within 100 kilometres of where I went to high school, I can have the cost of my tuition reimbursed. This was an extremely attractive option to me when deciding whether or not to go into nursing school, as having a stable job and being able to pay for school almost right out of university would set me up perfectly for my future.

I will know my goal is accomplished when I apply to this program and am accepted, within one year of my undergrad BScN graduation. This goal is extremely realistic as I am eligible, based on my geographic location, to be considered to have lived in a rural community. Though this goal is relatively short-term, I know it will help me in the long term by structuring my future and giving me more financial freedom and job stability through the experience. To achieve this goal, I will have to get my nursing degree and do as best I can in school. I should also be involved as possible within the school, as extracurriculars and achievements outside of the classroom are highly regarded in any job position. Lastly, I need to remain focused, driven and passionate about nursing as a whole so that I can go through my years of school as successful as possible.

Goal #2: Plan to be an MScN applicant

Though the prospect of being a Registered Nurse is very exciting to me, I would love to keep my options open if I decide to take it one step further to become a nurse practitioner. That is why, whether I do or do not decide to apply for a Master's of Science in Nursing program, I want to be sure that I have the marks, experience and skills needed if I do decide to. To do this, I want to:

• Be involved in many extracurriculars (such as TUEFRT, as mentioned further in "Artifacts" Page

• Get high marks (aim for 80% average every semester, especially in 3rd and 4th year)

• Use my clinical and theoretical knowledge to be the best nurse I can be and therefore be very hireable

• Maintain a professional image by focusing on my studies and development as a nurse

As mentioned, I am not yet 100% sure if I do, in fact, plan on getting my MScN. However, one thing I've learned throughout my educational experience thus far, is that the worst thing you can do is close doors of opportunity when you have the ability to achieve more than you already have; it is always important to challenge yourself every single day.

Goal #3: Obtain a Leadership Role in TUEFRT

I knew from the moment I saw a TUEFRT promotional flyer in the LEC Cafeteria that I wanted to be a part of this incredible and important organization. Now that I've been on the team and have experienced some of what it means to be a first responder, I am so thankful for the opportunity to help save lives while being a part of such a meaningful and close-knit team. In the future, I would love to be in an Executive position on TUEFRT to:

a) use my ideas to help maintain and further develop a great team

b) use this professional experience as a resume-booster

c) give back more to this team that's done so much for me so far

I believe that helping lead TUEFRT would be an incredible experience to further develop my leadership abilities and also to further add to my emergency life-saving skill set. I plan on applying for a leadership role for the third or fourth year, as I believe by then, I will have the right amount of call experience to be able to confidently lead a team. The thought of doing this empowers me to be the best responder I can be throughout all my experiences, and with every new challenge, I take away something I can improve on. To achieve improvement, I keep a call log of every single call I receive, what occurred, what I did well, and what I can improve on. This goal is, again, relatively short-term, but will make me a more skilled nurse and individual in the long term.

Goal #4: Create meaningful experiences and gain new skills through clinicals (virtual OR in person)

As I am aware clinicals may be virtual for first-years as we're still battling the pandemic, my goal is to make the most of clinicals despite them not being in person. Though I'd much prefer to actually work with long-term care residents, I know that through online clinicals, I can still gain valuable experiences that I can use towards my nursing skillset. Some skills I want to develop are proficiency with taking vitals, good communication with patients, effective communication with co-workers/other healthcare workers, detailed and specific care for the elderly through effective nursing practice, and empathy towards the older population. I will know these goals are achieved when I:

a) have improved these aspects in my TUEFRT experiences/calls

b) recognize the improvement of these skills during second-year clinicals

c) gain confidence in effectively supporting people, particularly the older population

d) feel mentally prepared to possibly apply to a long-term care home for a summer job

I know this goal is attainable because its effectiveness will be tangible in my future practice as a nurse. I also know these even through virtual learning, I have, in the past, been able to maintain a positive outlook and gain valuable experiences despite a lack of personal contact. Regardless of the state of my clinical practice for first year, I am very excited to gain an entirely new skillset to put towards my knowledge as an individual and as a nurse.