What is your quote or mantra when it gets tough?

[Lola Lou]

I am in search of a short quote or mantra that I can attach to my work clipboard that can remind me of why I am doing what I'm doing when it gets tough. I'm a new nurse and I tend to get overwhelmed when everything happens at once (it always seems to happen at once). It seems that a stat EKG is needed on one patient, someone else needs prn pain meds, another is SOB, and I'm getting an admission all within a five minute span. It is during these stressful situations that I question my judgment and worry that I'm not providing my patients with the best possible care. What mantras or quotes do you say to yourself to calm down, instill confidence, and remind yourself that you are not a super human no matter how much you wish you were? Thanks in advance for your help!

[Key Lime Pie]

My favorite quote is "If we had no winter, spring would not be so pleasant."

Things may suck now, but it'll just make you appreciate the good times even more.

[Lola Lou, BSN]

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone! I have written a few down and taped them to my clipboard at work. I've even passed the wise words on to a few of my co-workers.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I tell myself "just keep moving...one thing at a time"

[krisiepoo]

I just tell myself to do one thing at a time... I find that is the best way for me to not get overwhelmed

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

DISCO DISCO!!!

[ItDepends]

One of my favorites is "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." It is a reminder that all things, large or small, must be done one step at a time. I also say as long as the Pts are all still breathing, its a good day! Everything else is icing. "Fake it 'til you make it" got me through nursing school/check offs/clinicals.

[vnguyen3]

Smooth shifts don't make skillful nurses. No offense anyone.

[PauperRN]

Mine is from the serenity prayer- "serenity to accept the things I cannot change to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference"

[mo16]

"Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy... nurses are rarely short on caring."- Sharon Hudacek, RN

[medsurgrn95]

I have songs. I work night shift and have a boatload of songs I sing sometimes quietly outloud. Love "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas "One More Night" by Maroon 5. But when it gets really bad I think in my head the song "Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit. Old school and profane but it keeps me rollin'.

[yoga pants]

"If Britney Spears can make it through 2007, I can make it through this day"

[melosa08]

I always tell myself that God will never put me through something I can't handle. So even through the worst of shifts (which seem to be more frequent) I chant this to myself and move along. I also keep in mind that I have "x" number of days off afterwards for an added boost lol!