I am a brand new nurse (and I mean brand new- took NCLEX and got my license last week-type new). I work in a small hospital in northeast Nebraska near where the devastating tornados hit last night. Even though I'm really new, I think I may have already had what will be one of the hardest nights in my career.
The shift started out normally. I am in training so I was doing some computer work. Then we were notified that we were in a tornado warning. Tornado warnings are nothing new for this part of the country so everybody knew just what to do. We got the patients out into the hallway, pulled curtains, closed doors, etc. Nobody was very concerned. But then we started getting news from outside. There really was a tornado, and it was close- very close. Then we heard that there was a direct hit to a small town nearby- Pilger, NE. Suddenly, things started getting serious. All hospital employees were called to come in as soon as it was safe and we began preparing for casualties.
The more experienced nurses knew what they were doing and what their assignments were. Some went to the scene to conduct triage, others were preparing treatment rooms, and still others had to ensure that proper care was being taken of the patients already in our facility. I ended up in the front entryway helping families who didn't know where their loved ones were or what their condition was.
My kids were in daycare. There were some reports of damage in the area, but I didn't know how bad or how close to my kids' daycare. I got off a quick text to my family to please go get them, but last I had heard was my significant other was stuck in a tornado shelter at work and my sister in law was holed up in the basement. So here I was, trying to comfort families who didn't know where their family was, while I was actually in the same boat. I tried to make sure I wasn't bringing my own situation into it, but it was hard.
I may be a new grad, but I think I've already learned the hardest part of nursing. Nurses are the people who take care of other people's families even when they are desperately worried about their own.
