Thankful To Be A Nurse On Thanksgiving

Not all careers allow a person to positively influence oneself and society at the same time. I am so very thankful to be a nurse because, even though we might have a tough run at times, others find themselves in far worse circumstances. Nurses Rock Article

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Another nugget of wisdom to make us all take pause and think. Well written... Thank you!

MedChica

562 Posts

Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

This is the truth.

I've taken to another suggestion from a poster on this site:

Anytime I start complaining or something stressful happens? I just go online and look at my bank account...or take the money out my wallet -- and look at it....or repeat the following sentences in my head:

"$20 an hour. $20 an hour."

"I'm a new LVN with two jobs when an untold number can't get one."

That tends to keep things in perspective.

Really. I lock myself in the employee bathroom and meditate. My coworkers think it's hilarious.

I go to the bathroom to rest because it's the only place where I can get any peace. Sad, isn't it?

The aides find me in the breakroom. The lock's broken so the pt's just follow me into the breakdown. They shouldn't even call it a 'BREAK' room.

Sometimes? I just go in there to sit down and I'll tell you something else? I'm not the only one....

My feet hurt! Sometimes, I need a breather. I work psych and there's always a fire to put out.

I once said that i've never work in a regular LTC. But, you know -- LOL.

I went to another job to fill out an application, yesterday. It was sooooo quiet. No one was arguing. No one was 'manic'. No 'borderlines' were ranting and raving. No sundowning elders. No one getting out of their chair and falling. No elder rage. No 'cripple fights'. No pacing dementia/Alz residents. No earworms strategically positioned about the nurse's station. Giving me ulcers. LOL

"Help us. Someone, please help us. Help us. Someone, please help us. Help us. Someone, please help us. Help u--"

The MedPass...easy. The staff didn't have to practically beg the pt's to take their medication or check for cheeking.

What the--?

The residents were all lined up to take the meds. What the--? I was completely weirded out.

LOL Now you know that doesn't happen when you're working with geri's who have behavioral issues. You have to hunt a fair amt down. You try to give meds to a paranoid schizo and you might get cursed clean out and damned to hell!

"I'm not taking any g/d meds. GOD TOL' ME NOT TO TAKE THE MEDS! NO, GOD SAID! GOD SAID!!!!"

I love my mentally ill geri's. But...the other side of the fence is looking mighty green. LOL

SuzieF

54 Posts

Specializes in Most areas of adult hospital care.

I agree with you. As nurses, we have so much to be thankful for. I also don't really mind working on the holidays. There is usually an extra spirit of community comradery with most folks on theses days, too.

At my work, we shared a Thanksgiving meal together. It had a special family atmosphere to it. These are reasons that I don't mind working on holidays.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

As we head into Thanksgiving week, Black Friday and Christmas soon after, this is what I am thankful for:

1. My family. My husband of 36 years - we've been thru some incredibly rough times and yet we always seem to somehow pull thru. We don't agree on everything and thats okay but we both try to come to a middle ground and come up with a solution. Our sons: our oldest and his wife and three beautiful kids - love them so much. All are healthy this year. Our youngest son is doing okay in his situation - four more years of this.... His son is such a joy and we are very fortunate to be able to spend time with him.

2. Nursing - I've been in nursing 24 years this year - have been afforded many opportunities and am very lucky to have a great job and to work with some of the best APNs in the business.

Thru AN - I've met some of the best nurses around. Those of you that have PM'd me with questions/comments - I hope that i have provided some good advice and admitted when I made a mistake.

3. Religion - I won't make delve into this too deep but just want to say that a spiritual connection is more important to me this year then ever.

So - what are you thankful this season?

nutella, MSN, RN

1 Article; 1,509 Posts

I am thankful for the fact that I was able to create a life for myself that is rewarding and meaningful although I grew up in circumstances commonly seen as "bad."

It included running away age 16 after growing up in poverty, with violence and severe abuse and living in a children's home and transition apartment after I ran away. The day I feared for my life more than any other day, and rightfully so, I heard a voice saying "you need to get out now" very urgently. It enabled me throw some stuff into a bag, tell my mother I would leave and never come back, and run.

My life now is all I could wish for including a good spouse, children who are already in college and highschool, a profession that I love and that has given me many opportunities for professional and personal growth, the ability to go back to school for higher education - I am almost done with me MSN and plan on applying to a PhD program.

I am thankful for the spiritual community I am a part of.

I am able to afford housing, clothes, and food without having to think about it every day and I have been able to provide my children with a life that is stable in every way.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I'm thankful for being able to say that I still have two living parents, all three of my siblings, children, and grandchildren (family)! I'm also not only thankful, but grateful that I have been blessed to be able to take care of my mother, because of my career, when nobody else in the family could...no matter how inconvenient it was/is to my personal life/professional career. That's my mom, you know?:inlove:

I'm thankful for excellent health: 50+ years (adding another one come January) on this earth and on no medications whatsoever...truly been blessed!

I'm thankful that throughout the many years of celebrations, successes, stress, heartache, disappointments, (you name it!), I've maintained my faith and belief in God, and as such, have yet to pick up a first-ever alcoholic drink. I'm thankful for strength. This, by the way, gives my brothers new and challenging ways to engage in the "who's going to be the one to trick 'BSNbeDONE' into taking that first drink" annual get-together. Mind you, as I've said many times on this forum, I trust no one...not even them.:smokin:

I'm just really thankful for every new day, and for the opportunity help someone each and every day. We don't all have people that worship the ground we walk on in our career. For those who don't worship my ground, I'm thankful for the opportunity to give them my absence. (Go Float Pool!!):roflmao:

Let's see:down:. I've covered family, career, patients...what else? Oh yes, I'm thankful for allnurses.com for allowing all types of nurses to come here and share there experiences. From so many of you, I've learned so much....even the new grads. Your testimonies here help me to better serve and advise the new grads that I actually come in contact with on the job. For the experienced nurses, I continue to learn from you and I hope I've shared a tidbit or two that you can take with you, whether you use it or keep it in mind as to what not to do. Hey, nobody's perfect. And finally, I'm thankful for such an active (sometimes, too active) sense of humor. Life is far too serious to be taken seriously...all the time.:D

All kidding aside, I'm in a good place in life, I have my head on straight in these trying times, and I'm able to be there for those less fortunate. I am really and truly thankful. Happy Thanksgiving season, Everyone!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN

102 Articles; 27,612 Posts

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am thankful for the realization that I do not know what I do not know. I am a continual work in progress. I continue to grow emotionally and otherwise.

I am thankful for my material comforts. After spending a childhood in a financially stressed household complete with missed meals, disconnected utilities and repossessed cars, I am thankful I do not live a paycheck to paycheck existence.

I am thankful for the act of forgiveness. I resented one parent for selfishly prioritizing a drug habit. I resented the other parent for enabling the addiction. I realized the resentment was eating away at me, so I chose to began working through my issues.

I am thankful for my best friend. It is comforting to be able to talk about anything and everything to your closest friend.

I am thankful for healthcare advancements that have bestowed a second chance at life upon me and a loved one.

Specializes in ICU.

I am thankful for my family. My husband and kids. I'm on my second marriage and my first was very difficult. I was very unhappy. Now, I'm so happy.

im thankful I have a job I love and a career. I like to go to work now. Each shift is different and interesting.

I'm thankful for my extended family and my close friends. I could not have made all these changes this past year without their support.

I'm thankful I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and a car. I don't have to ever worry about paying my bills. Not having to worry about money is huge.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm thankful to have hot and cold running water, central heat, and ample access to food. I'm thankful that the worst thing in my life right now is that my son is moving out and still has his crap everywhere :yawn:

I'm thankful that I have never spent a dime on wheelchairs, cancer treatments or a therapist to teach any of my four kids to swallow or walk. I write those tuition checks with gratitude, even though it means I may never get to travel to the faraway places I dream of.

I'm thankful that all four of my kids are decent human beings who would aid a stranger in need.

amoLucia

7,736 Posts

Specializes in retired LTC.

I'm having some bumpy issues, but I am very thankful because 'things could be worse'.

Truly, there are folk out there that do have things worse. The homeless, disenfranchised veterans, domestic violence victims, the abused,

families of those with gut-wrenching, devastating illnesses, political strife victims, other with jobs that put them in harm's way every shift worked, and more.

I could pick comments from each previous PP that I cherish.

Thinking Thanksgiving.

kakamegamama

1,030 Posts

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.

Thank you for this opportunity....

I am thankful for the One Who first loved me and gave His life for me.

I am thankful for my "second blessing"---my husband who, after I lost my first one 14 years ago and said I'd only remarry if God plunked him down in front of me--was plunked down in front of me.....on the other side of the world. I'm certainly not deserving.

I am thankful for a job that lets me work where I can be of help to people who really need it and allows me to go back to my other home to spend time with a people who I never thought I'd want to see again but who I have grown to love.

I am thankful for my 3 "kids" and 8 grands, plus the "bonus" 3 and their kids.

I am thankful for small town life and a place to hibernate if/when I want to while still enjoying sitting on my front porch.

I am thankful for good health, although sometimes my body says "Ya gotta be kidding me! You want me to do what?!?" and then produces ouches and ooies....

I am thankful for another clear mammogram (12th clear one in 10 years).

I am thankful for the ability to go and do when many I know can't.

I am thankful to have my daughter and her family home for Thanksgiving, back from overseas, for the first time in 3 year.

Debilpn23

439 Posts

Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

I am thankful for many things . I'm thankful for my husband of 36 years . He drives me crazy sometimes but I love him.

I'm thankful for my 2 daughters ,and granddaughter.

I'm thankful for my mom and 3 siblings evenif I don ' t see them often as we ' re 1500 miles apart.

I'm thankful to be 4 years cancer free.

I'm thankful to finally have a job that seems to be the right fit . After moving from Mass to Florida.