Published: March 17, 2008 02:52 pm            

Looking to the future

DUNCAN — When Crystal Jesson, 21, of Duncan had the opportunity to job-shadow the birthing section of Duncan Regional Hospital, her emotions were ecstatic.

“It’s amazing to see women become mothers for the first time and see the excitement on their faces,” Jesson said. “It’s awesome to be a part of that experience.

“Expectant mothers never know what it’s like until they experience it. It’s amazing to watch.”

Jesson herself knows what motherhood is like because she has a son who is going on 2.

“He’s crazy. But he’s also a sweet little boy,” she said.

She is a student at Cameron University’s Duncan Campus and has wanted to enter the nursing field for some 10 years, but has been unable to determine exactly what she wanted, until now.

“I was talking with my adviser about my desires and my adviser informed me about the OU extension program that is available here in Duncan,” Jesson said. “I was excited.”

Although she is not in the OU program yet, she is preparing herself for the time when she can apply.

“I’ll be able to apply in the spring of 2009,” she said.

As a way of helping those who desire to enter the medical field gain a better understanding of it, “A Day in the Life of a Nurse” was marketed to Cameron pre-nursing students and held on March 6.

After attending the program, Jesson is excited for her prospects as a nurse.

“It was exciting, informative and very interesting,” Jesson said. “It makes me want to do it rather than just learn about it.”

The day started with a series of lectures in the morning.

“We learned what to expect in nursing school. It’s hard work. We have to buckle down and be a self-learner.”

Afterward, the fun really began for Jesson.

“I was able to follow a nurse around for the rest of the afternoon,” she said. “I had never able to see what happened on a daily basis before.”

Jesson job-shadowed in two different locations at the hospital, the birthing section and ICU.

“Birthing was a little more exciting,” she said.

Besides the excitement of helping people, she hopes that her work as a future nurse will be able to impact lives in a positive way.

“Being a nurse will also allow me to help people through hard times. I hope I will make a good impact in their life. I’ve always admired those who’ve done this work.”

Day in the life of a nurse is sponsored by the OU Nursing Program Distant Site in Duncan, which has partnered with the hospital to provide its students with hands-on experience in the nursing field.

“We have all types of nursing programs at the Duncan site,” said Dr. Patricia Dolphin, associate dean for academic programs at OU.

“We felt if we build a facility in a location, people will be able to stay in that area when they graduate,” she said.

OU has distant sites all across America and uses Web interfaces and satellite link-ups to reach students in rural and suburban areas.

        

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