The One that inspired me? What a wonderful question, and a very hard one to answer. There have been so many great inspirations involved in my life, but if I had to pick the single most inspirational person that pushed me to want to be a nurse, I would have to say it was my wife. You may be saying to yourself “what a sap,” but seriously she was such an inspiration for me. Well, let me explain, you see she was just about finished with her nursing school career when we got married in August of 1995, and then I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Talk about a hard transition: a new marriage, nursing school, and now a devastating disease. Whoa, what a struggle, but I’m here to say she pulled it off. She not only was able to manage the responsibilities of school, but she also had to help manage a new home, and most of all she had to take care of me.

 

She was so dedicated and showed so much compassion no matter what she was doing. She could have been studying for a med/surg exam, cooking dinner, or administering me my chemo meds, it just didn’t matter. Her dedication and no quit attitude, was so overwhelming, and so very contagious; that she never let me get down and give up throughout my sickness. For those that may not know, when dealing with a disease

like cancer, the patient’s attitude and overall outlook are tremendously important in the healing process. Her attitude never seemed to waiver, or if it did she never let me see it.

 

I can remember one time when she was trying to get ready for clinical she had the next morning, when I became so extremely sick and nauseated, that I slept on the floor in the restroom. To my amazement, when I awoke early the next day she was laying there beside me, holding my hand and washing my face with a cool cloth. No big deal to most but after she got me back in the bed she cleaned herself up, and went on to her clinical. When she arrived back home instead of complaining about how tired she was, she again was there to take care of me, no questions or excuses. What an example of selfless caring and compassion. Sure you may say that she owed that to me because we were married, but she shows that same type of care and compassion to others.

 

Now lets jump to the present, as we have now been married for almost 14 years, she still inspires me. As we now have two children, Jacob and Lydia, she now must manage not only their school schedules, extracurricular activities, her work schedule, but also my being in nursing school, WOW!!!!!!

Courageous Wife

Since my first semester of nursing school when I met Patty Melton RN, MSN, she has greatly influenced my nursing experiences.  During my first semester, I attended my chapter’s SNA meeting and there she was greeting students and answering questions.  She was very proactive for our SNA chapter and even told stories about her experience from when she was Vice President of TNSA.  This inspired me to attend the TNSA convention.  During my second semester, I ran for office and became President of our local chapter.  Miss Melton shared her knowledge and encouraged us to take control and make the experience the best we could.  Working with her during my second semester, our membership grew and thoughts of running for state office entered my mind.  Miss Melton was there to talk with about my concerns and continued to encourage me and support me in my decisions.  Not only was she an excellent advisor for SNA, but she was also a great mentor.  Anytime we needed an ear to listen about personal problems or difficulties we were facing with the semester, she was always there to listen and give the best advice she could.  She is the epitome of a therapeutic communicator.  I am glad that I have gotten to spend two years of my life sharing and growing with this special instructor.  Thank you for all that you do.

Instructor’s Support for TNSA

Kevin Johnson

TNSA Northern Regional Director