Eight months in and loving it...

[Adam D. RN2005]

I have been a practicing nurse now nearly eight months. What I can't believe is how well I am doing. I love getting up (okay I don't enjoy the getting up part) in the mornings to go to work. The second I put the uniform on, I become one with it and transform.

My supervisor has been coming to me left and right (too the point I am started to go 'Oh no, not again...' each time.) a pin award because of compliments from my patients. More then a handfull of patients have writen it. And even recently one letter made it up on the unit bullitin board, that a patient's daughter stated that I exemplified the art of nursing. That I changed her position on how she felt about the unit. And how ontop of everything I was.

Another patient dropped a card in the "Been caught fishing being the best" boxes that are all around the hospital saying that I was able to comfort and give a scared patient a peace of mind. And that they looked forward to when I was their nurse.

I must have 30 pin awards now. They are all in my locker. Honestly, I choose not to wear them. Reason, while I know that I am a good nurse, I don't want to flaunt it. And also, all of these awards are extremely humbelling to me. I am just trying to be the best nurse that I can be. Making sure that my patients get the care they need and desearve.

For me, I have found that nursing is the perfect profession for me. I go in there and do my job, and when the patient destabilizes, I am in there doing everything in my power, using all of my knowledge to get that patient stabile.

I found that I am catching my patients constantly when something is not right. And I get on top of it. My supervisor has told me that she sees me in the crises situations very calm and very aware of what is going on. And she also feels that I am extremely thourogh and organized. And I feel it.

I love my job and it shows.

Tomorrow (3/27), I celebrate my 33rd birthday. I am taking the day off to celebrate. But if I see an accident, or someone collapses, I will go into Nurse mode and will calm that person down and make sure that they are stable and will stay with them untill help arrives. Like I said, I love my job, as well as my profession.

Later,

Adam D., RN

[TLC RN]

Good job & have an awesome & happy birthday! YOU ROCK!

[LeesieBug]

Thanks for keeping us up to date on how things are going.

I really appreciate you posts! With graduation looming ahead for me, it is refreshing and encouraging to read posts from those of you who are LOVING nursing in their first year, rather than being completely overwhelmed and hating it.

I sometimes feel like I should not be quite so excited about graduation, based on all the horror stories I hear. These posts help balance out my fears.

Happy Birthday!:balloons:

[clee1]

Excellent Adam!

You are an inspiration to us all.:biggringi

Happy birthday!

[Humbled_Nurse]

That's great to hear Adam and very encouraging for new nurses. I have a suggestion for you. Does your hospital have some sort of new nurse mentoring program? If yes, you need to be in it. When your first year is up I think you should offer to mentor new nurses during their first year since you have had such a positive experience. When I say mentor I don't mean being a preceptor although that would be good as well. By mentor I mean that you are there to support a new nurse through her first year by listening to her and giving advice and your "positive vibes". In reality experiences like yours are not the norm. The first year for most nurses is rough! I know it was for me.

Keep up the good work Adam!

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

I always look forward to seeing your posts. You bring a refreshing outlook on nursing. Im glad to see things are going so well for you. Keep up the great work. Nursing needs more people like you!!

[perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN]

Glad to hear from you!!! you sound like an excellent nurse. I have been a nurse about the same amt. of time as you and hope one day to have similar feelings- would love to know how you do it. I too, echo other posters in saying I am so glad you decided to be a nurse it sounds like I would truly enjoy working with you. I hope you have a great birthday!!