Before I became a nurse... - page 2

1. 
   Jan 5, '07

   Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 85; Likes: 2

   Another thing.....
   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???"
   Only a Nurse....
2. 
   Jan 5, '07

   Joined: Dec '02; Posts: 41,761; Likes: 48,081

   . . . . I was a stay-at-home mom who didn't get out of bed at 1:45 a.m. to get ready for work.
   
   Tweety - I worked at Roundtable when I was young.
   
   steph
3. 
   Jan 5, '07

   Joined: May '02; Posts: 5,147; Likes: 9,473

   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!
4. 
   Jan 5, '07

   Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 228; Likes: 113

   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.
5. 
   Jan 6, '07

   Specialty: 4 year(s) of experience in Med-Surg ; Joined: Feb '06; Posts: 231; Likes: 140

   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!!
6. 
   Jan 6, '07

   Joined: Dec '05; Posts: 860; Likes: 105

   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.
7. 
   Jan 6, '07

   Joined: Feb '04; Posts: 1,715; Likes: 542

   I never checked out people's veins....I find myself doing this in church, the grocery line....never know when you might need an IV!
8. 
   Jan 6, '07

   Joined: Oct '02; Posts: 60,588; Likes: 17,378

   Quote from GardenDove

   Tweety, you are one lovable human being.

   Why thanks........blush. Nursing has a way of changing us doesn't it. Glad some of us have changed for the better.
9. 
   Jan 6, '07

   Occupation: Peds Joined: Jun '06; Posts: 79; Likes: 49

   I told myself all through nursing school that I would never go to pediatrics.
   Well here I am. Peds Nurse and loving it.
   
   I never thought that I would hold a friends baby and start checking the baby's fontanels.
   I now see causing pain as helping someone to get better.
10. 
    Jan 6, '07

    Occupation: ER Nurse - Pedi and Adult Specialty: 6 year(s) of experience in Tele, ICU, ER ; From: US ; Joined: Aug '06; Posts: 502; Likes: 96

    Before nursing, I thought I knew what TIRED meant.
    
    I thought I knew what STRESS was.
    
    I thought I knew what RESPONSIBILITY was (besides parenthood).
    
    I thought I knew what it meant when soldiers say, "the folks in the foxholes with you are the only ones who understand".
    
    Been a long, tough night.
11. 
    Jan 6, '07

    Occupation: RN/MOM Specialty: cardiology-now CTICU ; Joined: Mar '06; Posts: 148; Likes: 13

    before i became a nurse i:
    ran 7-10 miles 5 days a week and did something else(spinnng, pilates/yoga) the other two
    read BOOKS
    ate healthy food i cooked myself
    slept in
    took time to breathe
    kept a journal
    had more friends
    but motherhood changes a lot of the same things.
    **the baby is 1 now and i re-joined my gym YAY!**
12. 
    Jan 6, '07

    Occupation: Med Surg RN Specialty: Med/Surg, ICU, educator ; From: US ; Joined: Nov '04; Posts: 1,051; Likes: 958

    before I became a nurse, despite all the crazy nights I've had since then, I could never truly say "I love my job", and mean it!
13. 
    Jan 6, '07

    Occupation: RN Specialty: Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown ; Joined: Oct '05; Posts: 525; Likes: 54

    before i worked as an aide in LTC, i had not one drop of patience...now, it's something others notice about me.
    
    Before i was a nurse i broke my back and sweated my guts out in a NH (for the majority of that time i was in nursing school. Ack!!) Now I have a job that encourages me to learn and interests me everyday.
    I definitely agree that nursing really forces a person to come out of their shell and enagage with others, while teaching you to stand up for yourself and advocate for your patients.

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