In the first semester, I was still nervous with basic bedside care—introductions, safety checks, and what to chart. After lab, Sarah Gonzalez stayed with me and walked me through a simple routine: sanitize, two patient identifiers, ask about pain, scan the room for risks, and line up supplies before touching the patient. She showed me how to take vitals calmly, how to explain each step, and how to turn those findings into a short SBAR. Sarah was caring and patient, but also very knowledgeable—she answered my “why” questions in plain language and never rushed. That practice made the basics feel doable.

Early in the second semester, we cared for an older patient who needed help to the bathroom. I was ready to stand him up, but Sarah slowed us down: she locked the bed, checked for dizziness, put on non-skid socks, and used a gait belt. She spoke gently in Spanish and English so he felt safe. On the way back, she noticed damp linens and took a moment to provide pericare, then did a quick skin check. She found redness on his heels and sacrum, so she floated his heels with pillows, applied barrier cream, set a two-hour turning schedule, and let the RN know.

She also encouraged sips of water (per order) and made sure the call light was in reach. It was simple care—toileting, skin, safety—but done thoroughly and competently. That day changed me. I saw how Sarah’s caring attitude built trust, how her knowledge guided small decisions, and how her thoroughness prevented bigger problems. Because of her, I now slow down, do the safety steps, check skin every time, and speak up with a clear SBAR. She helped me move from first-semester hesitation to second-semester confidence by showing that excellent nursing starts with excellent basic care.