Before I became a nurse...

[arizonanurse]

I never wiped anyone's bottom but my own.

I thought being a doctor automatically meant you were smart.

I never swore.

I never had to worry about contracting Hep C or HIV.

I always could count on being home on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

I never dreamt that my alarm clock was someone's call light going off.

I never thought a five-days-a-week, eight-hours-a-day desk job would seem exciting.

Nobody ever hit, kicked, or threw up on me.

I NEVER thought I'd ever say to a doctor about a patient, "I don't care if she's alive or dead, just get her out of here." (I've only said this once, so please don't call me heartless.)

Any others?

[MedSurgeMess]

before I became a nurse, despite all the crazy nights I've had since then, I could never truly say "I love my job", and mean it!:)

[all4schwa]

before i worked as an aide in LTC, i had not one drop of patience...now, it's something others notice about me.

Before i was a nurse i broke my back and sweated my guts out in a NH (for the majority of that time i was in nursing school. Ack!!) Now I have a job that encourages me to learn and interests me everyday.

I definitely agree that nursing really forces a person to come out of their shell and enagage with others, while teaching you to stand up for yourself and advocate for your patients.

[jamonit]

i never thought that i would have to change dressings on a man with a bedsore down to the bone, right next to his orifice and have to check to make sure the maggots in the dressing, eating the necrotic tissue hadn't all escaped onto the bedding, his scrotum (which they often did, had to kill them with 4x4s) or in my scrubs. and after that, i never thought i'd be in the cafeteria eating rice and feel a tickle near my belly button to look down and find it was an escaped maggot.

[crazybusyRN]

I never held blowby with one hand and rubbed a 5yo's head with the other because she said "I don't feel good, please don't leave me" (she was intubated within 20 minutes, kids always know when they're in medical trouble).

I never knew that a life that lasts hours or days can have every bit as much impact as one that lasted 80 years.

I never knew every cartoon character you can name, and the accompanying songs, despite having no kids of my own.

I never saw a baby turn that horrible gray-green color that you know means death is imminent.

I never knew that I would gaurd binkies, security blankets, and teddy bears with my life, because if you lose them, you might as well give up on having a good shift.

I never thought that a big gummy smile or a toddler's "fank yoo" could make up for a whole day of crying the moment I walk in the door.

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

i never thought that i would have to change dressings on a man with a bedsore down to the bone, right next to his orifice and have to check to make sure the maggots in the dressing, eating the necrotic tissue hadn't all escaped onto the bedding, his scrotum (which they often did, had to kill them with 4x4s) or in my scrubs. and after that, i never thought i'd be in the cafeteria eating rice and feel a tickle near my belly button to look down and find it was an escaped maggot.

how COOL are you? I'm a NICU midwife, couldn't EVER imagine being able to do this! It certainly takes all kinds, thank whoever!!:flowersfo

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

I never thought I'd HAVE to have the ANSWERS. But more often than not, in the midst of chaos I look around and find others looking at ME! (Wow!)

I never thought I'd enter a burning building and then exit the same building when we had put the fire out. Building saved, no injuries!

I never thought I'd sleep with 9 - 12 guys a night (not/never in the biblical sense). I do wake up a bit confused at times.

I never thought I could go from princess to no make up, wet head and pretty stinky. Never find the fashion aspect. Ugly shoes/boots and all.

I never thought I could RUN with a 6 month old baby while doing CPR well, then doing the flawless resuscitation/ET/IO/meds.

I never thought I could ever tell a mom that "Yes, ma'am I regret to have to tell you there was a terrible fire at your house AND we were unable to reach your son despite all our efforts and we are still working to find him." And then she just screeches like an animal and then pulls most of your stinky turn-out gear off you as she comprehends the tragedy and then attacks you. Then you get to go recover the little burned kiddie body. No doubt, notifications ARE the worst.

I never thought I could stomach all the dirt, funk, blood, poo, vomit, snot, pus, urine and the feeling of bone realignment when you pull that broken femur to traction.

I never thought I would have the range of patience, anger, disgust, joy, gratitude, exhaustion, elation, amazement and pure wonder that I can experience - sometimes in the same day!

I never thought I'd ever step on a live mouse or rat. Or that I'd have roaches in my hair. Or that I'd have to know how to subdue an escaped monkey. Or I'd kill spiders, snakes and destroy wasp nests without a second thought. (I do draw the line on opossums)

I never thought I could handle ANYTHING, but I know I can.....

I never thought I'd be in such great company. ALL the awesome NURSES, DOCTORS, ANCILLARY SUPPORT STAFF, PARAMEDICS, FIREFIGHTERS, EMT'S, LAW OFFICERS, VEHICLE OPERATORS, PILOTS that I work (and have worked with) with are the BEST! Thanks to you all that make my job not just POSSIBLE, but so much more!

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

:monkeydance:.... I NEVER DRANK WINE BY THE GALLON!! :lol2:

[lupin]

I never thought nurses worked that hard (I worked as a receptionist at a peds office, the nurses seemed to have it easy....talk about the grass not being greener).:uhoh21:

I worked at a Walmart as a front end manager and I thought people were ungrateful there.

I never realized how important yearly checkups and pap smears were.

I never felt like I had a "nitch" in life or fit in anywhere.

I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to do when I grew up (still don't).:monkeydance:

I never thought I would try and convince someone over a whole shift that no they can't get out of their wheelchair to walk, they haven't walked in 15 years (Alzheimer's ward).

I never felt respect for myself.

I thought 10 bucks an hour was great pay.

I didn't know I could be so tough.

I didn't agree with assisted suicide or right to die issues (DNRs and such).

[talaxandra]

... I had no idea that "have you opened your bowels today?" would be the least intimate question I'd ask someone

... it never occured to me that I could read about a nurse having someone else's maggots crawling on her while she's eating and think "Wow! That's kinda cool"

... I wouldn't have imagined that a request for milk from a poor, dry old lady could make me want to throw it, glass and all, at her (long night, tiresome and inconsiderate patient, actual sick other patients)

... having someone's poo on me would have been a cause for hysteria, rather than cause for a tired "oh, crap"

[Phen]

I never thought i'd deliberately put a needle through s'ones skin

[muffie, RN]

i could actually sleep throughout the night

[angel337, MSN, RN]

i took my health for granted...not any more