How Nurses Are Like Olympians

Brian, ASN, RN

Nurses Train Like An Olympian

Before an athlete can enter into the Olympic ring, they must do years of extensive training. The same is true for nurses. They take rigorous prerequisites, nursing courses, and clinicals, before they can enter the nursing field. Nurses train to go into many environments. Just like not Olympians take their talents to the slopes, nurses train to take their skills and knowledge into many different arenas. For both, there are tears, laughter, joy and a few hours of sleep. But they know in the end it will all be worth it because they are following their dream!

Physical Strength

It is obvious that Olympic athletes push their bodies to the limit, but it's not so obvious that nurses do the same. Nurses are required to do heavy lifting during their shift; whether it's transferring a patient or lifting heavy boxes of equipment from place to place. The end of a shift can leave a nurse with a strained neck, backaches and sore feet. We all know that a 12 - hour shift is the norm for a nurse. (And that means 12 hours of being on your feet moving from place to place!)

Mental Toughness

The amount of mental toughness both Olympians and nurses have to push through the physical demands of their careers is extraordinary. Nurses must master bladder control while lifting heavy items each shift. They must control their emotions when they are working with a patient with a fatal illness, or a patient that is rude because they are in so much pain. Day after day of pushing their bodies to the extreme nurses still greet their patients with a smile on their face, now that is a special talent.

Olympians and Nurses Have Fans

Olympians have their nation of fans cheering them on during their Olympic event. Nurses have fans too. They may not cheer for them or have posters of them on their walls. But the patient and patient's family & friends truly do appreciate when a nurse goes out of their way to make them feel comfortable. For many, being at a clinic or hospital isn't a joyous time, so they may not cheer or even be upbeat when they approach their nurse, but they are appreciative even when they don't show it. A nurse's biggest fans are usually their friends and family that supported them on their journey of becoming a nurse and finally being one.

Uniforms

Each country has its own Olympic uniform, and at many clinics, each unit of nurses has its own colored scrubs. Their uniforms show recognition that they went through a lot to get where they are today. Both Olympians and nurses wear their uniforms with pride!

Eye On A Goal

For the Olympian, that goal is to perform their task to the best of their ability and earn a medal, preferably a gold medal. The nurse also strives to perform his or her best, day in and day out with the goal of knowing that he or she has touched the life of just one patient with compassion and quality care, making their burden more bearable. A nurse's medal is not worn around their neck, but it's the smile and sense of pride they carry in their heart.

How are you or one of your co-workers like Olympians? Tell us your stories below!