How I started to love my career...

I would like to share my experience my journey to my career from being a nursing student until I became a staff nurse in a tertiary hospital. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

How I started to love my career...

If someone will ask me what is nursing for me?

I would answer it's something that will take everything away from you, but yet you'll stay in love with your job. With every smile you see in every patient who is very thankful for your caring hand, what else will you ask for?

Nursing wasn't my first choice of career. I wanted to become a doctor that's why I decided that after taking nursing I would, eventually, pursue my dream. But one patient changed my view.

He was like a father to me. He was the first patient I handled as a nursing student. He was a 73 y/o man lying on his bed with his sons and daughter around him. On the first week of my duty, he was a post op patient who undergone craniotomy. He was intubated and somewhat (I thought at that time) hopeless.

His relatives even mentioned to me that whatever happens to their father they will accept it as the will of God. As I hear those words I was stunned and at the same time thought that "So this is what it feels like when a dying patient is in front of you."

I cannot cry!

I remember my clinical instructor said that to us. Every day, during the start of my shift he so febrile that he even got a temperature of more than 38oC. My shift is almost spent to this patient, but I never complained because I remembered my dad saying to me that before my granddad died he got a fever of 40oC.

But one day, while I was giving him a morning care, this patient who never responded to anything (he was GCS3) suddenly reached for me and hugged me. I was surprised and even looked at his daughter who is herself a doctor and gave her a look saying 'what's happening?'

But then, she also was surprised. Another lady came (I think she is also one of her daughter) and said "Maybe, because she looks like Jessica."

I was confused and asked, "Who's' Jessica?".

"His granddaughter." she answered back.

I stayed there for a couple of minute and let him hug me. My tear was about to fall when suddenly I remembered that I should be calling the attention of the staff nurses at that moment. I let go and went to the nurses' station.

Why can't I forget this moment of my life?

I never really experience having my grandfather at my side. He died when I was 1 y/o. And until now, this moment made me hang on to be a nurse regardless of how hard this career is.

EVERY NURSE KNOWS THIS FEELING: YES, IT IS HARD TO BE A NURSE BUT WHEN A PATIENT SAYS THANK YOU IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.

Remember that even though you're a nurse there will be moments in your life which will make you doubt yourself. But never let it into you. Every nurses went through it. If you give up now, who else will do your job with all their heart? :nurse:

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IamYuina

About IamYuina, BSN, RN

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Beautiful story!

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Love this story! Especially because it was from nursing school. Beautiful words :)

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Thank you so much for this story!

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That is a beautiful story! I have tears! Yes, nursing can be stressful, but that one minute moment that the patient takes a hold of your heart, you realize what a gift it is to be a nurse! God bless you!

If someone will ask me what is nursing for me? I would answer it's something that will take everything away from you, but yet you'll stay in love with your job. With every smile you see in every patient who is very thankful for your caring hand, what else will you ask for?

To tell you the truth, nursing wasn't my first choice of career. I wanted to become a doctor that's why I decided that after taking nursing I would, eventually, pursue my dream. But one patient changed my view. He was like a father to me. He was the first patient I handled as a nursing student. He was a 73 y/o man lying on his bed with his sons and daughter around him. On the first week of my duty, he was a post op patient who undergone craniotomy. He was intubated and somewhat ( I thought at that time) hopeless. His relatives even mentioned to me that whatever happens to their father they will accept it as the will of God. As I hear those words I was stunned and at the same time thought that "So this is what it feels like when a dying patient is in front of you." I cannot cry! I remember my clinical instructor said that to us. Every day, during the start of my shift he so febrile that he even got a temperature of more than 38oC. My shift is almost spent to this patient, but I never complained because I remembered my dad saying to me that before my granddad died he got a fever of 40oC.

But one day, while I was giving him a morning care, this patient who never responded to anything (he was GCS3) suddenly reached for me and hugged me. I was surprised and even looked at his daughter who is herself a doctor and gave her a look saying 'what's happening?' But then, she also was surprised. Another lady came (I think she is also one of her daughter) and said "Maybe, because she looks like Jessica." I was confused and asked, "Who's' Jessica?". "His granddaughter." she answered back. I stayed there for a couple of minute and let him hug me. My tear was about to fall when suddenly I remembered that I should be calling the attention of the staff nurses at that moment. I let go and went to the nurses' station.

Why can't I forget this moment of my life? I never really experience having my grandfather at my side. He died when I was 1 y/o. And until now, this moment made me hang on to be a nurse regardless of how hard this career is.

EVERY NURSE KNOWS THIS FEELING: YES, IT IS HARD TO BE A NURSE BUT WHEN A PATIENT SAYS THANK YOU IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.

Remember that even though you're a nurse there will be moments in your life which will make you doubt yourself. But never let it into you. Every nurses went through it. If you give up now, who else will do your job with all their heart? :nurse:

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.

Beautiful story. :loveya:

Your story reminded me of a never-forgotten-patient. The patient had throat cancer. The tumor was previously removed, it was fast growing and they knew it would grow back and eventually close off his airway. He had a new trach placed on this admit. He used a special valve on the trach at times during the day so he could talk. The day he was transferred to our unit we talked a lot. I was in his room often for trach care. He looked down/sad and I tried to be an ear for him to help him talk out his worries. One time when we talked he cried a little. He was worried about leaving his family behind but shared the love he had for his family. I think that the little talks we had those next few days I was working made him feel a little bit (just a bit) better. The last day of working three in a row I was able to discharge the patient home. (They think he had maybe 6 months left.) Before he was discharged his wife hugged me and thanked me, then the patient walked up to me, looked into my eyes and said "Thank you, for saving my life." Wow. I know I didn't save his life, but I knew what he meant. The peace that was in his eyes when he told me that. I will never forget that. I felt honored to be his nurse and get teary eyed just thinking about it now. Yeah...THIS is why I am a nurse. It is a blessing when we can make difference (even a little bit) in someone's life.

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I just can said "PROUD TO BE A NURSE"

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:) Thanks for liking my story... I never really expected to get these much of appreciations from you guys :cat:

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Back then I wanted to become a dentist, but this event made me change my mind

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