It hit me about a month or so after I was off orientation on my sub acute unit when one of the aides came up to me and said "14a said to call the nurse because he has pain in his chest." I looked at her and said "Well what are you telling me for?" That was the moment I really realized that I was indeed "the nurse". Also was the moment I realized you should never feed hot dogs to geriatric patients (ended up sending said patient to the ER, and he really did have an episode of angina, but two minutes after he left my pleasantly confused DNR/DNI/DNH man walked out of his room pounding on his chest and said "Lady it's paining me here!) Oh the memories..
I think it really hit me that I'm going to be a nurse when I started an orientation for my first nursing position.I realized what nursing entitles,how much responsibility we are given as a nurses,we are basically responsible for everything.I dont think I fully understood the impact of the role of nurse until I started to work in the field.
Such great stories everyone! It's great to see when the big imaginary lightbulb clicked on for everyone. Your stories have been both heartwarming and inspirational. Thank you.
I realized I was the nurse when my pt coded in the ICU and I jumped on the bed and started compressions.
I realized I was the nurse when the doctor came to the code and said "who's this pt's nurse?"
I realized I was the nurse when a pt starts to circle the drain and I have to make a judgement call in a split second.
I realized I was the nurse when I had to turn off all pressors and withdraw care on a pt for the first time in my life.
I realized I was the nurse when my little ole lady who was in a coma and intubated for two months was extubated, neurologically in tact, and smiled when she heard my voice and started speaking in spanish. Makes it all worth it!
The last few years things have been very difficult for our family. My husband hasn't been able to find employment for over a year. We have 2 small kids and have been surviving off unemployment and wic checks. I stay home and watch the kids. While my husband gets up everyday and looks for a job. I have been wanting to go back to school but never could find the right moment or much less knew what I wanted to study.
I am a very compassionate and kind person. I love kids and I love to take care of them.
My turning point was a few weeks ago. As I lay in bed late night watching Anderson Cooper report on the devistation in Haiti. As I saw all the men , women, drs. nurses helping all these people. I thought to myself I could be there doing that. I should be there helping those poor people. What a great and rewarding job those drs. and nurses must have! That's when I realized I want to be a nurse, god willing I will be a nurse. I know I have a long road ahead of me, but I can't wait to get started
Don't give up hope~you can still do it. My mother always wanted to be a nurse. Her older sister became a nurse during WW2, but mom's parents decided that my mother shouldn't do that. Back then nursing was still considered to be something that girls did if they didn't have any options. Her parents felt like they had already given up one daughter to what they considered a rather "dirty" profession and they wouldn't permit another to do it. So my mom got married and had 5 babies.
Over the years she never stopped wanting to be a nurse, but life gets in the way, you know. My parents were very poor; there would never be any money for anyone to go to college. Somewhere along the line my grandparents had a change of heart. When I was 14 and the youngest child was 6, my mother's parents cashed out their life insurance and gave the entire amount to my mother with the stipulation that she use it for nursing school. She was about 36 and still had 5 kids at home. She went straight to the Junior College and paid in full her tuition, books, uniform,and shoes. My father was enraged--he wanted that money for a motorcycle! From that point on he made it as hard for her as he possibly could.
Mother graduated in spite of all her responsibilities and she worked as a nurse until she retired at age 62. EVen at 75, she still identifies herself as a nurse. If you are a nurse at heart, you can make it happen. Hold on.You'll know when the time is right.
It hit me just this week actually. I am at the point in my education where we don't get any preparation before going to our acute care clinicals. We show up blind, no getting any info the night before, just like a "real" nurse. I was a little nervous, but once I got report from my nurse and survived the day, it dawned on me that I am almost there! On May 12, 2010 I will be working as a graduate RN.
OH WOW! I'm going to be a nurse....and I don't have a CLUE what area of nursing I should start out in
My test anxiety has been replaced with which path of nursing to choose & whether to work PT/FT. I have 3 kids and a supportive family so I don't necessarily need to work FT but I wonder if its best to work FT until I become more experienced.
Suddenly there are all these possibilities and I don't know which to choose!! Of all my clinical rotations so far, I have enjoyed surgery the most, so I'd like to go straight into that area if possible.
My concern is this: if I choose to enter a specialized field such as surgery, maternal/child, pediatrics, cardiac..am I limiting myself where opportunities are concerned down the road.
Is it better to start out in Med/Surg, Telemetry, ICU OR does it just depend on where each individual wants to take their career? Do they even hire NEW grads as PT?
As crazy as this may sound, its really not so much about the $ as it is about finding a good fit and getting the most out of my time as a brand new nurse.
:redbeathe Yesterday, when the school called me to register for orientation in a few weeks. When I got off the phone, my heart skipped a beat then it dawned on me......WOW!!! Im going to be a nurse! Have not had this feeling since Medic School
Not too long after I got my letter and started reading the forums here. But now that I think about it, I knew I was on my way when someone's (not my pt) IV alarm went off (on my first day on the floor), I went to assess it, and fixed the problem, without freaking out about my lack of know-how.
NurseKatie08, MSN
754 Posts
It hit me about a month or so after I was off orientation on my sub acute unit when one of the aides came up to me and said "14a said to call the nurse because he has pain in his chest." I looked at her and said "Well what are you telling me for?" That was the moment I really realized that I was indeed "the nurse". Also was the moment I realized you should never feed hot dogs to geriatric patients (ended up sending said patient to the ER, and he really did have an episode of angina, but two minutes after he left my pleasantly confused DNR/DNI/DNH man walked out of his room pounding on his chest and said "Lady it's paining me here!) Oh the memories..