I thought being a doctor automatically meant you were smart.
I never swore.
I never had to worry about contracting Hep C or HIV.
I always could count on being home on Christmas and Thanksgiving.
I never dreamt that my alarm clock was someone's call light going off.
I never thought a five-days-a-week, eight-hours-a-day desk job would seem exciting.
Nobody ever hit, kicked, or threw up on me.
I NEVER thought I'd ever say to a doctor about a patient, "I don't care if she's alive or dead, just get her out of here." (I've only said this once, so please don't call me heartless.)
I have been working as a tech in the hospital for almost 2 years now (lots of stool samples). Been a nursing student for almost 3. I take care of my neighbor's mother twice a week at my house (her mother has dementia). The neighbor is constantly worried about her mother's bowel pattern. She sends over fruit salads with her mother when her mother has not moved her bowels for 2 or 3 days. I always tell the daughter if her mother has a bowel movement while at my house. One day Her mother was at my house and pooped.... I ACTUALLY considered (for about 30 seconds) not flushing it so that I could show the daughter. After I realized what I was thinking, I was like "OMG....What am I thinking, am I crazy???"
Good grief, was there such a time ?? Trying hard to remember days without screaming, excrement, running non-stop, deadlines, food throwing, WAIT A MINUTE! That's motherhood! :monkeydance:
Before I was a nurse, I was living at home with my parents. Then I graduated and got married (both within a few months).
I guess you can say that I AND my career have both matured over the years. But I think I can honestly say that in becoming a nurse, I lost my innocence.
I never thought I would congratulate someone for having a bowel movement or passing gas
I never knew the variety of color and consistency of fluids that could come out of someone's body
I never thought I would be able to clean up a huge poopy mess, wash my hands, then go eat lunch
I never realized just how dependant patients are on our care until I was asked to wipe someone after they used the bathroom because they couldn't bend down after surgery
and finally, before I became a nursing student i worked full time at starbucks whipping up frappuccinos and coffee, and even after working with coffee for nearly 2 years i still drink at least 2 cups a day, never get sick of the stuff!!
I said I never wanted to be one. After twenty years it has been the one stabilizing factor in my life. I have been through divorce, death of both parents and diappointments by my children and always nursing has been my rock..the one area in my life I feel the most in control of..and it constantly reminds me that there are people out there in far worse needand pain than I am.
blueyesue
566 Posts
Then there may be hope for me.