Following my gut (finally)

Three hours at UNC Hospital today and I think I’ve figured something out.

Following my gut (finally)

Remember how I’ve been questioning the whole pre-med thing? Well, I actually did something about it instead of just freaking out in my dorm room. Called the hospital yesterday and asked if I could shadow some nurses today - turns out they have a whole informal program for students considering healthcare careers. Who knew?

Wandering the halls with my little notebook

The charge nurse on the cardiac unit, Sarah, let me follow her around for most of the afternoon. I’m not gonna lie, it was intense - watching her coordinate care for twelve patients, teaching a new grad how to start an IV, comforting this elderly man who was scared about his procedure. But here’s the thing: she looked… satisfied? Like genuinely fulfilled by what she was doing. Not stressed (okay, maybe a little stressed), but purposeful.

I keep thinking about what she said: ‘Doctors diagnose and prescribe, but nurses heal.’ Maybe that sounds cheesy, but after watching her work today, I think I get it. She knew every patient’s story, remembered that Mrs. Chen likes her blanket folded a certain way, noticed when Mr. Rodriguez seemed more confused than usual. That’s the kind of healthcare provider I want to be. Now I just need to figure out if UNC’s nursing program is as impossible to get into as everyone says it is.