And So Im Surprised...

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I'm a new nurse...

I haven't been on the floor for long and am still on orientation.

I graduated a while back ago... just long enough back that I had worried I'd lost my nursing 'mojo'... not that I ever really thought I had it.

I would consider myself an excellent potential artist, lawyer, entrepreneur, advisor, scientist, PR agent... heck, anything but a nurse. Of all of my natural talents, nursing school just didn't seem to be one of them... I often wondered why on earth I chose nursing, the one career in which I had to TRY SO HARD to fit the mold, when everything else seemed to come so easy. I was angry, resentful, discontent.

I loved people, though. I loved caring for them, I loved working with them, and I loved making a positive impact on their lives... I did not, however, love the idea of having to brush people off when there was too much to do and no time in which to do it... which is precisely what I found nursing to be (well, I suppose I never really brushed people off... I just got yelled at by instructors for being too slow whenever I felt that validating a patient's feelings was more important than showing up on time for group lunch or keeping up with the instructor's charting schedule. Yep, charting seems to be the bane of my nursing existence.).

I guess when every employment ad stated: "staring at a computer for approximately 70% of the day" as a potential hazard, my vision of being a "nurse" began fading away... Is this what we thought nursing would be? No, probably not.

I was worried about starting the "adventure" (which, in my head, I had replaced "adventure" with "nightmare") called "Nursing"... but then I found my current place of employment.

They were willing to take on the risk of hiring an overly honest new grad.

They were willing to take the time to teach me and guide me in the areas where I felt most weak.

They were positive, optimistic, and treated me like one of their own.

They pointed out areas for improvement, but coached me in the right direction rather than belittling me.

...I haven't cried once since I've been on orientation... which is a shocker, I suppose, as the general consensus of new nurses may have predicted nightly crying a long time ago.

But, then again, my preceptors don't push me beyond what I feel safe with. They check with me often to ensure I progress accordingly. They make me feel like my input matters. I finally feel like I fit in somewhere. I'm with people who want to learn... who want to help each other... and who want to provide excellent care. Heck, even my happy-go-lucky attitude has been encouraged rather than belittled (for once).

So who would have guessed that I would end up so happy?

Maybe MAGNET status evolves with that kind of culture... or maybe it has nothing to do with it? Maybe its just a unique and awesome environment? Either way, I'm ecstatic!

At the moment, I guess I'm on cloud nine... and while I suppose that could one day change, I'm sure as heck happy with life right now and no longer afraid of what my nursing career may bring.

I guess I just wanted those of you who are unhappy right now to know that it is possible... even when you think it's not.

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Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

Awesome post, I'm glad you're enjoying it! Yes there is hope......:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Thank you so much for posting this. We hear so much about Reality Shock as an unpleasant phenomenon..... it's great to hear that the shock can be pleasant!

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[sigh of relief]

So happy for you.

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This is wonderful!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

That is fantastic! So glad you landed a job in such a great place. You can give other recent grads hope knowing that are still places out there that provide a positive experience for a new nurse.

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So happy for you!

Good places to work do exist! I work in one! It's not perfect by any means, and I can discuss the flaws nearly endlessly, but I also see the strengths. Most days the good outweighs the bad, and I can't really complain.

When I started as a new grad, the jobs I had weren't great fits. I found where I'm at now, by accident, and love it. I'm in a specialty I never really considered as a student. Funny how it works?

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