3 month old girl at La Grada, July 2009
2 month old girl at La Grada, July 2009
On my first day as a volunteer at the shelter, I experienced feelings of uncertainty and discomfort. I was still learning what my role was and constantly thinking about whether or not I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. After this first nervous day, however, I decided to take on a different mindset. Of course, I continued to be considerate of what was expected and needed, and to act appropriately for my position. But while maintaining this respect, I also took more initiative. I found within me a confidence that I have built from my previous experience caring for infants. I knew that I had skills to offer, so I became determined to do just that. I was pleased to find that once I allowed myself to provide help in every way that I knew how, I began to enjoy my experience more and more. I was no longer nervous and the caretakers were appreciative that they did not have to tell me what to do for my every move.
Volunteering at the shelter taught me a lesson that will be extremely important to me as I continue my nursing studies and career. I learned that it is important to maintain a balance of confidence and awareness. As I begin to utilize the knowledge that I will gain in nursing school, I will need to believe in myself and my abilities. Along with this confidence, it will also be necessary to maintain high awareness to ensure that mistakes are minimized. As a volunteer, these infants were in my care, and as a nurse, my patients will be, and I feel that confidence and awareness will be key factors in providing the best care possible.
