My co-workers and I were sitting at the nurse's station the other morning after a rough 12-hour shift. It was the first time we had sat for longer than 10 minutes all night long. We were sleepy, exhausted and a tad irritated.
As we sat resting our poor feet, the student nurses arrived on the floor. Taking in their crisp white uniforms, we glanced down at our wrinkled scrubs. Noticing their bright, shiny faces, I sneaked a peak at my co-workers. Our hair hung in our faces, mascara streaked under our eyes and on top of that, we could barely put three words together to form a sentence. We were whooped!
I spoke first.
"I remember those days."
My fellow nurses nodded agreeably.
My charge nurse spoke next.
"Should we tell them to run now...before it's too late?"
We all laughed, then instantly sobered.
I got to thinking....If I were a nursing student again, what would I want to know? What would have made my transition from student to graduate nurse easier? If I were mentoring a student, what would I tell them?
I would tell them that being a nurse means you have met your goal. You did it! You are now one of us. So jump in, hold on and get ready for the ride of your life.
As a nurse, you are required to be many things: We are teachers. Doctors do not have time to teach patients what they need to know about their condition. That's where nurses come in. You will learn how to do a little teaching each time you are face to face with your patients. We are counselors. At times, we must help our patients and their families to utilize coping skills. Sometimes all we need to do is listen. Sometimes, we are the enemy. Some patients really do not like to be told what to do. Sometimes they are angry or scared. They will lash out...at you.
Nurses do not learn everything they need to know in the first day, the first week, the first month. There is a steep learning curve. Give yourself time to adjust to your first job. Don't beat yourself up because you don't think that you are learning fast enough. AND don't let others beat you up either. If someone seems to be giving you a hard time, tell them nicely and with a smile, "I am still learning".
As a nurse, you will learn to use every resource at your disposal. That means fellow nurses, reference books, the pharmacist, the social worker, and the doctors. After a while, you will learn who enjoys sharing their knowledge, and who doesn't.
As a nurse, you will be witness to miracles and to mayhem. You will learn to be compassionate, but strong. Sometimes challenges will invigorate you and some will exhaust you. Be cautious when making friends with fellow nurses. Be aware that not everyone is as they seem. If your work environment feels stifling and toxic, it probably is. Staying positive in a toxic environment is extremely difficult. Don't feel bad if you decide to leave for greener pastures.
As a nurse, you will have good days and bad. You will see people at their best and at their worst. Sometimes it will seem as if you aren't making a difference, but even if you touch one person's life, you have done your job.
I've been a nurse for 2years and everyday i learn something new.Nursing is a life learning career.Just because we are a nurse we don't know everything,even if some think they know it all>>>
These silly nurses are not only playing stupid games but they are placing your patients at risk. Have you spoken to the unit manager or even the Director of nursing of the hospital.
As a student i also had horrible nurse educators and once i discussed this with the univarsity coordinator and the ward unit manager these nusres where not only fired from the hospital but are never to teach again.
So hang in there it is much better when you start working
Being a nurse is a big responsibility,TLC and compassionate heart is what you need.never mind what other say about you just be focus and do the right thing.
Specializes in Lactation Ed, Pp, MS, Hospice, Agency.
"please tell me why adn programs are more about flushing students as opposed to teaching them"?
comment:
this is exactly why i chose to attend a smaller, city college to go to ns, as opposed to a lg university setting.
so, my advise to anyone looking into schools is to go with your gut & think about whether or not the school talks about encouraging success, as opposed to failure. i will never forget how right my decision felt.
it turned out to be the best decision i ever made!
~mj
(med-surg rn, in one of the most infamously difficult units, 1 yr)
Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.
I believe that I was lead to be a nurse by a higher power. So, yes, I get frustrated but then I get on my knees and ask for help. It may take a while for an answer but I always follow my instincts.
Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.
"please tell me why ADN programs are more about flushing students as opposed to teaching them"?
I am not sure what you mean? Do you mean they are rushing them through? I graduated in 96 so I found that I was very well taught. They were extremely picky and if they saw the least bit of indifference in you, they would get you out. I am very proud of where I went, and I feel I received excellent education.
Specializes in TraumaER ,NICUx2days, HEMEONC CathLab IV.
I'm crying and I don't know why. Well I guess I do know why. IF we have made someone's day a little better, help some one live helped some one die, helped family deal with the stress pain and fear, taken the worry off their brow, given some one relief from pain, and helped someone understand what the problem was and empowered them to fix it then we did our job as a human being aka Nurse... You summed up nursing and Florence would be proud.
Thank you so much for all of the wonderful advice. I'm still a nursing student trying to learn as much as I possibly can within the little time that I'm given, but I know it takes hands on experience to really understand everything. Reading this article was a breath of fresh air!! Thanks again!!:)
Nurse McDreamy
50 Posts
great read! thanks!