Walking into St. Francis on the first day of my student nurse internship, to say I was feeling anxious was an understatement. This was a new opportunity for me and I was going to get to fill a much larger role than I ever had before. However, that anxiety subsided within just a few hours all thanks to my preceptor Kalee. She took me under her wing and treated me as if I was one of her own. Coming onto a new floor and being surrounded by a bunch of new people is not easy. Kalee made sure to introduce me to everyone, show me where everything was at, and lead me in the right direction. It wasn’t long before I honestly felt like I was a part of the 5th floor med surg team.

Kalee took every chance she got to mentor me and show me how to correctly do things. She worked her tail off to find me excitement and was always searching for new skills for me to practice. No matter the situation, I always knew I could turn to Kalee and she would have the answer. Kalee not only was working as the charge nurse each shift, but she was also working to precept me. She was able to handle everything smoothly each time all while showing her confidence and grit.

When they say it takes a special person to be a preceptor, you best believe them. After a couple of shifts in, Kalee started to give me a chance to do things on my own. Being given this opportunity was a dream come true for me. I was finally going to get to be more independent and see what being a true registered nurse is like. Little did I know, I was going to enjoy it as much as I did. The impact Kalee had on me as a student is indescribable. It goes to show that if Kalee can have such a huge impact on other employees, then the impact she has on her patients has to be outrageous.

Often times people complain about having to get up early in the morning to go to work; however, I was beyond excited each morning I got to come to spend time with Kalee. Coming out of my summer student nurse internship, I feel as if I have grown and transformed into a completely different person. I truly give credit to Kalee for this. I now know what it is like to work a full week of shifts as a nurse.

If I was able to, I would stay with Kalee for the rest of my schooling and be her sidekick. She showed me the ropes to nursing, led me in the right direction, and will forever hold a special place in my heart. Without her I wouldn’t be where I am right now, and I know for a fact when I go back to school, I am going to be one step ahead of everyone else thanks to all the skills Kalee has given me. The world needs more people like Kalee in it. St Francis got one of the best when they hired Kalee and it truly shows inside and out.