Done one year as a nurse, thoughts...

[vss04]

So, I´ve made my first year as a nurse, working in a ward for patients with different kinds of heart failure/diseases.

So, what do I feel today? Well, there´s +/- of course, although the positive sides dominate (otherwise I shouldn´t still be there!)

I´ll start with the negative parts (than my thread will end in a positive way .

Am I responsible for to many patients? On the evening shift (14:00 - 22:00) I usually take care of 11-12 patients of wich usually half of them are under telemetry surveillance. Often 1 or 2 patients are teminally ill and can be expeced to die in any hour of my shift.

The nightshifts (21:30 - 07:00) are usually rather calm (most of the patients are sleeping!) but every now and than also nights can be very busy.

During day shift (07:00 - 16:00) there´s of course a lot of activity. Doctor´s round, telephone calls torelatives, to other facilities in the hospital, transport of patients to different activities, measurements, giving pills a.s.o. On top of that I´m obliged to fill in different statistic forms .

I´m not alone of course (even if I feel so sometimes),

but the amount of "things to do" are many times overwhelming and the stress one can feel over never to be able to finish anything is somewhat annoying.

So, what´s positive than? First: The friendship! Never before in my life I´ve had so many lovely, kind, professional, and in any other way positive characteristic, friends around me. Nurses, doctors and all other personal, they are all real good friends!

Second: The patients: Although most of them are really, really sick they are giving me so much back. Many times just by listening to their stories. The experiences I learn by from them helps me to become (hopefully) a better nurse as well as a better person.

Greetings from Sweden,

Gunnar :redpinkhe

[Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. You sound like a wonderful person.

[marie-francoise]

So, what´s positive than?

First: The friendship! Never before in my life I´ve had so many lovely, kind, professional, and in any other way positive characteristic, friends around me. Nurses, doctors and all other personal, they are all real good friends!

Second: The patients: Although most of them are really, really sick they are giving me so much back. Many times just by listening to their stories. The experiences I learn by from them helps me to become (hopefully) a better nurse as well as a better person.

Greetings from Sweden

Wow! Maybe people are nicer & more professional in Sweden? I truly love my own country, America, but I'm just sayin'... Anyway, thanks for your positive thoughts - they are encouraging.

[live4today, RN]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. You sound like a wonderful person.

Ditto! :cheers:

[vss04]

Well, I´m quite sure that most nurses and other professionals in America are just as nice and friendly as they are in Sweden :smilecoffeecup:. My satisfaction over my work could be explained from the fact that I became RN rather late in my life (today I´m 54 years old). I think I´ve found my place in life and will have the intention to keep it up as long as possible :).

Gunnar