[emmycRN]

Originally Posted by Angie O'Plasty, RN

I like knowing I helped make someone get better or feel more comfortable.

I like teaching people things about health so that they can have more control over their state of being.

I like the fast pace and the variety.

I like being able to work as much or as little, whatever hours I want, depending on my needs and abilities.

I like the breadth of the nursing specialties and being able to change environments if I choose.

I like the way nurses are taught to think critically about a situation. It's helped me weed the chaff from my personal life as well as helped me be a better nurse for my patients.

I love seeing miracles happen. Every now and then, I know there's no other explanation than that. It keeps me grounded in spiritual reality and keeps me connected to my God and my patients.

I agree with all of the above. I especially like the part about the things being a nurse has taught you being of help in your personal life.

The greatest thing for me is the myriad options for nurses. There's so much flexibility regarding how much you want to work and what kind of work you want to do. It's great not having to worry much about job security because there is never a shortage of open positions in every specialty imaginable from which to choose.

[Terp/RN]

^^^^ I agree with the above post. This makes all the negative stuff seems so small. I too have taken advantage of the flexibility, and job variety. Something I wouldn't be able to do in any other career field. Don't get me wrong, the helping patients and their families is important too.

[Roy Fokker]

We support, nurture and care for the sick, the wounded, the dying. Age, caste, creed or sex no bar. People at often their worst points in their lives - we work at setting them all right again.

The awesome responsibility that is ours alone to bear of being the patient advocate.

Where each day brings forth a new challenge. A new puzzle. A new case - or maybe a familiar old one. Never a dull moment.

How we are reminded from time to time (sometimes painfully) that despite our best efforts - we are only human and that there is only so much we can do. And that this is not necessarily a bad thing.

That there is as much love and happiness in this world as there is grief and sadness.


All this and much more - are the reasons I am proud to be a nurse.

cheers,


PS: Besides, how many professions do we say "And let us not meet again anytime soon" as a parting farewell?

[ranchwife]

I LOVE my little 9 bed hospital....I have worked larger places where you have 7 pts a piece, cna's to do the baths, RT, PT, OT, code teams, IV teams, etc!! Here in the madison valley, WE NURSES ARE IT!!! We are the code team. We are housekeeping. We are the IV team. We are RT!! When you come to work for your 12 hour shift and you and your only other nurse (yes, we staff with 2 on the floor) have 6 patients, all with IV's, 3 with foleys, one chest tube, 4 are TOTAL CARE and one in the croup tent andthe you have a 2 vehicle MVC come in the ER doors, you really learn to work as a TEAM and pull it together!! I cannot imagine doing anything else!!!

[mtacare]

Just a student nurse here speaking, but i hope i am getting there as i am giving all my heart in.

The people u are dealing with are not fakes, clients always speak from the heart, and i love making them safe. Here in our place, most of our clients (when we do medical outreach) i can say that they are poorest of the poor when food is their everyday problem.

Their smiles when they come to you and makes you be part of their lives and to listen and ease their pains.

[clc19k30]

The pace
Never the same day twice
Teaching new nurses and staff
Learning from the old battleaxes that walked the halls like nursing Gods
Good hot coffee with a little bit of lowfat milk.
CODES!!!!!!
Remembering how fragile life really is

[lvs2nrs3535]

I have to chime in again.... I love the reinforcement you get when a patient tells you you are an angel of mercy, and truly means it! I love being able to make a difference in a stroke patients life, (yes he had memory deficits, but physically he was fine, and I gently pointed out to him how much he had going for him, a huge supportive family, 6 siblings, a wife and kids who visited every night, and without revealing particulars, let him know about patients who have lost total function on one side of their body, or have no one who visits). I also spoke with his sister. The next day when i came in to work, his sister let me know that the patient had something to ask me. (he had had NO initiation when he first came, so remembering what he had to ask me was a big deal). When I got in the room, his sister had made a huge poster sayings BLANKS cheering squad, and his whole family had signed along with PT, OT, ect. ect. Pt asked me, would you please be part of my cheering section? I was so choked up, I signed and went and had a good cry. The patient went home the next week. Till then, he was getting depressed, having himself a big ole pity party. I pointed out with grace what he did have, his family took it and ran with it,,, and he is home now!!!!
THAT is the kind of feeling that makes the difficult ones more bearable, cleaning up the nasty stuff okay. When a little old lady holds your hand and calls you an angel of mercy and means it, well, your heart fills up. My cup overflows. sometimes its with urine and feces,,, LOL, but hey, thats part of the job. I love being there for people in need.
And... best of all, these people make me look at my life, (which has been tough traumatic, blah blah blah, and make me grateful for what I have.)
Every day is a gift, and I am blessed.
Did I say I love my job?????
Smile everyone, we are a special set of people, and none of us is perfect, but we do something it truly takes a special kind of person to do. I am glowingly proud of this, and while Im still a new nurse, and I know 10 years from now the shine will be off, I still believe I have found my calling.
God blessed us...and we get to share that.
Oh jeeeeez, Im getting all teary here.....
Love you guys!
KristyBRN

[Athenas83]

Awww Kristy, that's the sweetest story! I'm so excited about becoming a nurse.

[fakebee]

I love being able to say at least once a shift "No I've never seen or done anything like that before"...followed quickly by "But I sure would like to learn how or No I won't forget that ever". How many people are lucky enough to learn something new every day at work even after 11 years? Not many I'll bet. That's nursing.

[Nurse89]

That after 17 years I am still doling out the meds and hugs and actually still loving it.. I love a challenge and I went to the right place,,
I must add, i did take a 2 year hiatus, that might have helped too lol * wink