This is not meant to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Rather, this is the journal I kept while attending nursing school, copied word-for-word. Please keep this in mind as you read, review and rate. Thank you.

I graduated from nursing school in May of 2001. On the first day of class one of our instructors said we'd be required to keep a journal of our experiences. At first I was upset, thinking the exercise a monumental waste of time. Like we didn't have enough to do! But now, almost seven years later, I think of it as one of the most important, enlightening, spiritual things I've ever done.

I have to smile as I read and retype these old experiences. The things that stressed me out so much back then are now routine tasks I do hundreds of times each and every month (like emptying foley bags), but I still feel the sense of wonder when I think about what I do, as well as a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. That part hasn't changed.

Throughout these entries you'll see "Post-It Notes,"--notes that were actually left inside my nursing journal by various instructors. I have copied each note word-for-word, even duplicating the color of the paper itself, and they are as close as I can get with modern technology (Photoshop) to the originals. 

As a student, I worked in clinics, schools, surgery centers and hospitals. I met so many beautiful people, and each one taught me something new about hope and hopelessness, love, life, laughter and, ultimately, unbearable loss.

These are their stories.

The names of classmates, instructors and patients have been changed to protect their privacy.

A special thank you to Lornda for encouraging me to do this.