Patterns?

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

I was suspended the first month of high school in 1972, for fighting in a classroom, and then graduated with honors in 1975. In 1983, I was unanimously voted the LPN class president, but near the end of the program, there was talk of impeachment. I was put on probation in the third semester of the RN program in 1989 and graduated on the Dean's List in 1990.

In early 2019, I received recognition for identifying and intervening in a decompensating psych patient's status but, a week later, made a med error. I received recognition once again in late 2019 and early 2020 for recognizing and intervening on two different psych patients' decompensating statuses. 

In January 2020, I was basically informed that I saved a psych patient's life and received a DAISY award in February. I was terminated the following month.

Recently, I received accolades from a major business CEO for being "extremely valued".

Should I be concerned? Is this a Yin and Yang thing? One of Newton's Universal Laws? Do I fly high in April, only to be shot down in May? Is this a pattern, or what?

Have you ever experienced seemingly opposite or contrary forces in your life and/or nursing career?

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Oh yes, there are days at work where I feel like a rockstar, managers are complimentary of what I'm doing, the patients are so happy, co-workers shout my name when I walk on the unit, the doctor compliments an assessment finding. And I think wow, I love nursing, this is great!

Then the next day I get 8 emails from managers fussing at me for not doing x,y,z, patient hits me up side the head when I try to get a blood sugar, co-workers complaining about their assignments, doctor cussing about being paged yet again. And I think wow, why do I do this?

I think it's just the universe's way of keeping us in line LOL 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
17 minutes ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

Oh yes, there are days at work... 

Then the next day... 

I think it's just the universe's way of keeping us in line 

Or Newton's Third Law, Moon?

I could definitely identify with your examples, and I quoted the first sentence of your paragraphs for this reason: I mentioned this in another post, so if you read it before, just go and enjoy yourself doing something else.

The shift of June 5, 2006 was a terrible one with acting out high maintenance patients, verbally abusive family members, and rogue, prima donna staff members.

I considered calling off the next shift, and had that happened, I may have never met the student nurse who was to become my lovingly adoring medical nurse wife Belinda.

It seems all good and bad things, relatively speaking, happen for a reason.

 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Here's another pattern which can be viewed as a yin Yang thing, in that, " seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary".

Chances are, if we are a regularly active member here on allnurses, we will have an idea of the flavor of a reply will be from certain members.

Let's say a newbie post a thread describing a situation and requests feedback. If we see TheMoonIsMyLantern or JKL33 replies, they're going to be wisely and politely factual. However, if we see Sour Lemon or cynical-RN have replied, chances are they'll be just as wisely factual but with just a little more spice than what is necessary thrown in.

Of course there are other sorts of members, but I just bit my tongue and need to go give myself some First Aid treatment.

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Specializes in ER.

You obviously never learned how to kiss hiney is my conclusion. A little bit here and there es muy importante.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
22 minutes ago, Emergent said:

You obviously never learned how to kiss hiney is my conclusion. 

Emergent, I've got a nose so brown it smells!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I think the universe has a way of keeping things balanced, I'm an "everything happens for a reason" person. I try to remember that when things are tough, because without the tougher experiences, I wouldn't have as much appreciation for the good things. And likewise, when things are going along well, there's usually a bump that comes around the corner, for whatever reason, to keep us grounded. Certainly, some of the examples you point out could be more negative than "necessary" , but since so much of who we are is shaped by our experiences, I think all growth ends up being good for some reason, even if I don't understand it at that time. 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
19 minutes ago, JBMmom said:

I think the universe has a way of keeping things balanced, I'm an "everything happens for a reason" person. 

You know, JBMmom, I almost included you in the list of those who are....

1 hour ago, Davey Do said:

 going to be wisely and politely factual

...but I didn't want to throw the balance off.

Things seem to be unbalanced enough as it is.

You know?

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Specializes in ER.

Another thing might be that your irrepressible personality was guaranteed to always make one enemy of a rule-following tattle tale, who then proceeded to be your demise.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

Not really "patterns"...

My mom took care of my grandmother after she developed dementia. I lived thousands of miles away, and was not really there. When the time came and my grandmother's last days were upon us (she stopped drinking coffee), I flew out to be there and was exposed to hospice/home-health nursing (as opposed to the previous understandings of nursing I had heard about - not for me!). That experience is what led me to change careers into nursing.

When I was on the metro to attend my pinning ceremony for nursing school, I had the opportunity to help a little girl that started choking on an apple.

The day I moved to a new state, after graduating nursing school before becoming a working nurse, I became critically ill and spent 10 days in the hospital (3? in ICU). Gained personal experience with pain I would rather die than experience again, indwelling catheters, bedpans, terror when I had a breathing issue, and a memorable moment of kindness when a nurse helped me with a bucket of warm soapy water. I think that helped me be more empathetic towards patients - I've been there.

I was lucky and in many ways found my "dream" nursing job right away. It was a great learning experience and I stayed for 5 years. I loved what I did (med-surg for geriatric patients). At about 5 years, I got my "anniversary" gift and a "acknowlegement" from my director.  Then, on a whim, I applied to a per diem job at another hospital, at the interview saw a manager that I knew from before. Shortly after starting the new position, I think I "realized" how much "easier/better" nursing could be with more helpful coworkers, and quit my first job. I do still miss that job, but have never actually wanted to go back.

After a few years of working my new job and loving it, "the company" made drastic changes to our pay and requirements. I honestly felt/feel betrayed and the desire to go to that job vanished instantly.  Shortly after, I passed a certification exam, texted a friend, and she said "come work with me".  So, new career that I have wanted for a while and am excited to finally do with an awesome coworker.

So, sometimes the good with the bad, or some learning experiences. Not really 'patterns', but points that help me flutter along through life.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
26 minutes ago, Emergent said:

Another thing might be that your irrepressible personality was guaranteed to always make one enemy of a rule-following tattle tale, who then proceeded to be your demise.

I'm sorry. I'm at a loss for words.

Partially because I'm laughing so hard I'm crying.

The other reason is because you might, just this one time Emergent, be right!

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
27 minutes ago, CalicoKitty said:

So, sometimes the good with the bad, or some learning experiences. Not really 'patterns', but points that help me flutter along through life.

An extremely touching and moving post, CalicoKitty. Plus, it shows oh so much insight. And a respect for the occurences of the cosmos.

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