Positive Aspects of Nursing??????

fedupnurse · May 30, 2002

There is no other feeling in the world like making a difference in someone's life. Whether it is literally saving someone's life or helping a family understand what is going on or just being there for a scared patient and your presence is a calming influence, there is just nothing like it. The personal satisfaction from being able to positively impact someone else's life is what makes nursing so unique.

I also like that I can work 2 or 3 shifts a week and be able to live a decent lifestyle with the income. I love the free time I have away from work. I can usually arrange my schedule (benefit of being "senior") so I can take a slew of days off in a row.

There is plenty I don't like but the above outweighs the bad stuff. I can see me doing this for many many years to come. Well, if I hit the lottery....

OBNURSEHEATHER · May 31, 2002

Isn't it sad that I found this thread about the positive aspects of nursing dying a quiet death, but all of the negative one's stay strong at the top of the list :confused:

I think that some nurses (myself included) aren't always comfortable talking about how we feel personally rewarded by nursing. It's the caregiver in us, we just do, do, do, and don't stop to talk about it.

And I agree. It all comes down to one "thank you' or a hug or a card. Makes it all worthwhile

Heather

live4today, RN · May 31, 2002

the positive aspects of nursing are numerous! for me, it was knowing that each shift i worked, i was part of the health team that helped patients to heal and return to optimal wellness. i was able to hold the hand of the sick, the dying, the family members, and calm many a worried one. i was able to share my education with them by teaching them the things about their health that they didn't know before. i was able to reach the patient and their family members where perhaps others couldn't, even the doctors. i was able to give hugs, backrubs, prayers when asked, a smile, an understanding glance or compassionate heart. my patients gave so much back to me, too. i learned much from them by taking care of them, listening to their life stories, and offering them a listening ear that they rarely had access to when not patients. i loved working beside the best of the best in the health field; learning from other doctors, nurses, and other health professionals different ways of doing things, time management skills different from my own, teamwork among my peers.... the list is endless! the pay was always good for me, the hours were great most of the time, and the respect and trust i received from my patients was tremendous! leave nursing? not on your life! i love being a nurse! no matter what! :nurse: :cool:

editors note: this is from aimeee. renee, i changed your color to teal from lime to make it easier for others to read. i didn't want anybody to miss your great post! i hope you don't mind!

OBNURSEHEATHER · May 31, 2002

Whoa Renee! That green isn't very easy on the eyes! If I didn't always enjoy what you say so much, I might have been inclined to skip it

Heather

live4today, RN · May 31, 2002

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER
Whoa Renee! That green isn't very easy on the eyes! If I didn't always enjoy what you say so much, I might have been inclined to skip it

Heather

Why thanks, Heather! :) Sorry about the green not coming out in bold print. I tried to make it bold, but guess I didn't do it right. I won't use it again unless I can make it bold next time. It is really light isn't it! :eek: :)

Sable's mom · May 31, 2002

I love this thread - I thinnk OBNURSEHEATHER is right that we don't often take the time to think about or speak about the positive aspects of our jobs.

I love the opportunity to help a labor patient find the strength to bring a new life into the world. After 20+ years I still get a thrill from that first cry!!

It is so rewarding to be able to help a family at a very stressful time in their lives.

And yes, even when the outcome is bad :crying2: (demise or miscarriage) it is a good feeling to be able to assist the family through the first hours of their grieving and to have them come back later to deliver a healthy child and tell you how much you helped.

All in all, I can't see myself doing anything else.

:) :nurse:

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2002

Yea, it is interesting to me, that not only in nursing, but in LIFE in general we just look at so MANY NEGATIVES???? What a waste of a very short trip on Planet Earth for us! Anyhow, I prefer to focus on positive aspects myself. Having lived nearly 40 years, I have learned this is a better way to go for so many reasons. Yes, I learn slowly lol....

I have only been a nurse 5 years, but so far I love it.....did i say LOVE IT???? Yes I do. I, too, still cry when a baby comes out...a family overjoyed at their newest addition. I feel privileged to be a part of this miracle. I feel like if I can touch ONE person and make a positive difference in his or her life, my being here on Earth is WORTHWHILE! What better reason to be a nurse???? SURE!!! I could have continued my degree in computer science and made MUCH MORE money by now. But, to me, money is only secondary to the WONDERFUL feeling I have about myself and the lives I touch each time I work. My sisters, friends, and most family can't say that about their jobs, even tho most make 2 or 3 times what I do. I say again, I LOVE WHAT I DO....and take the "bad" with the MUCH MORE good!!!!

Peeps Mcarthur · May 31, 2002

For me nursing is like the goodness you feel when you help a stranger. Someone that you don't know has their hands full at the door and you pull it open ahead of them and wait so they don't need to struggle. Someone you've never seen before that you'll likely not see again looks at you and takes the same courtesy to say "thank you".

Not everyone you pull the door open for will say thank you or even look at you but you know, whether they do or not ,that you helped them ease the burden of thier life if only for a moment and there is no greater thing that a person can do than to comfort another human being.

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2002

PEEPS that is an AWESOME analogy and post. Never thought of it that way. Thank you! All I seek here is positive affirmation for what we all do each day we nurse. I think we all need it. Thanks for that contribution....and Renee and Heather, thanks to you, too for not letting this thread die.....but it prolly will anyhow. We seem somehow stuck on the negative here. I guess it is more interesting and "fun" to talk about horror stories and how we get rooked each day by suits?????? Go figure. :rolleyes:

nursemicke · May 31, 2002

Mr. D was sitting in his recliner when I admitted him to homecare. Said he slept in that recliner for 20 yrs. He had radiation for his lung CA and wasn't eating. Too weak to get to the commode by his recliner. I ordered a hospital bed. He said it was the best nights rest in 20 yrs. I ask his MD for a picc line and TPN. She didn't know about picc lines so I educated her and she gave the order. Now his pressure sore could heal. Got a physical therapist to see him. In three months Mr. D was able to walk to the end of his street with his physical therapist.

I told my husband, it was worth the struggle of nursing school just to help this one patient.

Do you all know the "Starfish Story?" A man was walking along the beach after a storm and picking up starfish and throwing them in the water. Another man walked by and said why are you doing that. There are thousands of starfish on the beach. You can't make a difference. The man bent down, pick up a starfish and threw it in the water and said, made a difference to that one.

That's what we are about. We can't change the world, but we can make a difference to that one. And that is my joy and reward.

fedupnurse · May 31, 2002

Nursemicke, like the starfish story. It is so true!

We have a syaing at work "We are here to save lives and stamp out disease". It was started by a nurse being sarcastic but it still is said just about everyday in the unit. Difference is, it is true!