Enough of the "bad" stuff, lets hear what makes nursing so special

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2004

Hearing from an R.N. that as a student you are doing a good job.
Hearing from a nursing tech. that you made that bed "perfect", and feeling proud about it.
Hearing from a patient that they will miss you when you are gone.
Hearing one nurse tell the other nurse to "stop hogging the student".
Catching a med. error before it happens.
Feeling like you are a real nurse, even if it only involved flushing an IV and reconnecting it.
Sitting on a patient's bed and chatting with them for a few minutes.
Having a patient reach out to hold your hand when you enter the room.
Having an increasing amount of "OHHH I GET IT" moments.

I would only add to that the feeling of knowing you kept your head and did the right stuff when your patient unexpectedly crashes. It may sound sick but it happened to me on my tech shift for the first time a few days ago and my adrenalin was soaring.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Jun 19, 2004

The other night in the ER, the sister of a patient started talking to me & next thing I know, she was hugging me & crying on my shoulder. It's a reminder that it's not just about being there for the patient, but their family also. Sometimes a patient is too disoriented to know exactly what is going on - but the family member(s) at their bed side can be quite emotional because they are worried & they need your attention also.

tryingtomakeit, RN · Jun 20, 2004

One of the most awesome moments in my life happened on thursday. I graduated nursing school in May, took boards last wednesday, and started my first day on the floor on thursday. I was still in shock from taking the NCLEX and basically praying to God that I had passed, then suddenly thrown into the world of labor and delivery head first. I was in a head spin! Within 5 minutes of walking onto the L&D floor for the first time, I was standing in a delivery room watching a delivery!

Later that day, I had already clocked out and was about to head for home, but I decided to peek in the nursery at that first baby I had seen delivered. The charge nurse in the nursery motioned for me to come on back. I walked to the baby's crib and looked down. Then it struck me that I was there when this little person took his first breath and I will probably see a lot of people take their last breath. Right then I felt like one of the most honored people on the planet. That's what nursing is all about ...

JoniL&DRN · Jun 20, 2004

One of the most awesome moments in my life happened on thursday. I graduated nursing school in May, took boards last wednesday, and started my first day on the floor on thursday. I was still in shock from taking the NCLEX and basically praying to God that I had passed, then suddenly thrown into the world of labor and delivery head first. I was in a head spin! Within 5 minutes of walking onto the L&D floor for the first time, I was standing in a delivery room watching a delivery!
Later that day, I had already clocked out and was about to head for home, but I decided to peek in the nursery at that first baby I had seen delivered. The charge nurse in the nursery motioned for me to come on back. I walked to the baby's crib and looked down. Then it struck me that I was there when this little person took his first breath and I will probably see a lot of people take their last breath. Right then I felt like one of the most honored people on the planet. That's what nursing is all about ...

What an awesome priviledge and responsibility you have! You lucky girl! Wish I was you instead of hip deep in Chemistry! :)