Jumping Ship

As I stand at the helm of the ship, I think back on a question posed of me, “Specifically, what have you done these past three years.” In true brevity I say, “Learning to be the best nurse I can be so I can help others be the best nurse they can be.”

I pause and think, this could make or break my career. Like Florence Nightingale, her friends and family wouldn’t understand her need to leave the white castle and set sail for a war torn world (The National Archives, 2016). While I cannot know Florence’s reasoning, mine was to experience a life of having little and wanting nothing more than what was needed. If I was going to fly solo, that meant knowing the four forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. For me, the overall theme here was shedding all I had that weighed me down.

It was time to jump ship, swim to shore, and face my fear of flying. But first, I wanted to enjoy some onboard entertainment. Maybe there would be some words to inspire me. There I sat swaying and moving side to side. I’m not sure if it was from the ships rocking in the waves or an unknown force filling my soul.

When the music played, my mouth dropped, all I heard was Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music singing Jump Ship and I vaulted over the starboard side. Little did I know there was a jungle ahead of me and I’d have to rely on others (see the Acknowledgement Section in my dissertation) to get me through some tumultuous terrain.

It’s been three years since I jumped ship and if I were asked the same question today, I’d have the same response, “Learning to be the best nurse I can be so I can help others be the best nurse they can be.”

Thinking to myself, “Was it really a jungle ahead of me or paradise?”

Reflecting on the Evidence

1. list two benefits and two risk associated with the use of support systems.
2. Using Bloom’s Cognitive Taxonomy, create and answer your own question using the above story.

Dedication

For everyone who has, is, and will be an actor, actress, and extra in the evolving story of my life. For my guardian angels and family in heaven who watch over me. And to God the best writer, casting director and producer there is.

References

Armstrong, P. (2010). Bloom’s Taxonomy. Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Retrieved Monday, September 9, 2024 from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy/

Beck, M.S. (2024, June 6). What land awaits [Photograph].

Johnathan McReynolds. (2024, November 13). Johnathan McReynolds. In Wikipedia. Retrieved February 21, 2025 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_McReynolds

Jump Ship. (n.d.). Jump ship. Musixmatch. https://www.google.com/search?q=jump+ship+jonathan+mcreynolds+lyrics

Mali Music. (2021, September 24). Jump ship. [YouTube]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb35ClmoS6Y

Merriam-Webster. (n.d). Support System. In Mirriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved September 5, 2024 from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/support%20system#:~:text=Medical%20Definition-,support%20system,with%20practical%20or%20emotional%20support

Nasa. (2023, May 23). Four forces of flight. Explore. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/four-forces-of-flight/#:~:text=Four%20forces%20affect%20an%20airplane,%2C%20thrust%2C%20drag%20and%20lift.

Schwartz, M.R., Neil, J.A., Scott, E.S., Peery, A.I., Eble, M.F. (2014). A descriptive exploratory study on how nurse educators use digital stories in the classroom. TheScholarship.ecu.edu. https://thescholarship.ecu.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/036c1a54-bf45-4b12-8d72-abe477723590/content

The National Archives. (2016). Florence Nightingale. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/florence-nightingale/#:~:text=It%20took%20Florence%20and%20her,and%20Elizabeth%20(Betsy)%20Davis.

Special Thanks

Delores Bunting, my friend, editor and reviewer for Jumping Ship.

Anna Schwartz Howell, my daughter, reviewer and editor for Jumping Ship.