Let me hear your raves

[Kyla.ann]

I understand that it is easier to vent about our hard times than it is to rave about the good; however, reading through all these posts about crazy co-workers or the person that is out to get someone has me (a pre-nursing student) a little frightened about what I am getting myself in to. I know there has GOT to be some good out there. I know there HAS to be people out there that love their jobs and the co-workers that come along with it.

So please, I need to hear your good work experience stories before I lose hope. Tales of co-workers helping each other out? Doctors appreciating the work that nurses do? TEAMWORK in the workplace? Is this all just a fantasy or is it real and actually out there somewhere?

[teeniebert, LPN]

I love seeing improvement in my residents (rehab floor of LTC). Just last night, a woman who has expressive aphasia and was only able to say 'yes' when she came in, looked at me and said, "Oh, go away!" when I arrived with her HS meds. We both laughed, then had an actual conversation while I repositioned her.

Another resident HATES needles. Unfortunately, she's also diabetic. Any time she has a fingerstick or insulin injection, she moans and cries and looks away. She also says, "Praise the Lord!" when I tell her she doesn't need sliding scale insulin at mealtime. The last two nights when I've given her Lantus, she's started moaning but then stopped, looked me in the face, and cracked up laughing.

[husker_rn, RN]

I am truly lucky. I work night shift on a med-surg floor and I work with a wonderful group of nurses. I broke my right tibia last March and then fell while on crutches and broke my right wrist. 3 months off, nervous about the workload; I was given a light team and those closest to the nurse's station. Also dealing with spouse with terminal cancer. My co-workers have my back and are the best support group anyone could ask for. I could not be more blessed.

[mappers]

Our Pulmonary Rehab is on our unit and it is so nice to see former patients coming in for rehab who wave and say hi. I think they do appreciate us.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

I like where I work. Affirms my career many times over...

Some days I have really, really sick patients...

The days I'm not "up to par" I get the nicest outpatients who come in for biopsies or lipoma removals.

It is a balance of using your mind to think with just having a nice work day.

Definitely a good recipe to avoid burnout.

Am moving forward with schooling though...because it is time....I am no longer as challenged as before....

[monkeelouise]

We all need a place to vent. This is a wonderful forum in which nurses can let out their frustrations. Do not be let what you read cloud your judgement about nursing. Nursing is the most wonderful, frustrating, rewarding, toughest job that I will ever do. That is why after all these years, I am a NURSE. Good luck with your clinicals.