rambisisking

I hope you are very young and that you spend many many years being what you appear to be. Nursing needs you desperately and needs you to influence as many others as you can through your presence. If you truly believe what your words say then I pray the Gods give you the patience and tolerance to deal with many of those that you will work with that have quite a different idea of what nursing actually means. I'm afraid I got too old and tired to continue to take it on any longer. To all: there is much to be learned from this one, pay attention.

I have just decided to leave nursing. Just 2 days ago in fact, my family and I sat down and made that decision together after I had been in bed for 3 weeks with mono and strep. I"ll be 53 years old in a few weeks and I have "MONO". I am the nurse that was "called",for almost 33 years I am the nurse that put my patients before myself always. I am that nurse that Never cared what I was paid as long as I could give comfort and continue to give more. I am that person because that is the only thing that I know how to be and the only thing that I can be. That doesn't make me anything but true to me. It doesn't make me better than any other nurse alive or dead. I have been that in every area that I have worked in for my nursing life. In 1980 I quit a job for another at a 3 dollar pay cut, pretty much everyone I knew thought I should be committed. It was however the right thing for me to do for me. Anyone of "Us" nurses who felt that we were called to nursing in this way went above and beyond what most people thought was reasonable. But let there be no doubt about it, We do it all for ourselves. We do it because it is what we do and If we didn't do it that way "WE" would not be fulfilled. That does not make us selfish and that does not make us Angels, it also makes us no different that any nurse who is in it for the money. You see Timothy, there are various kinds of payment and to many of us the money never could equal the emmence fullfillment of being the person that you are meant to be and having the ability to carry that out. I have given to patients to their families to their friends more than I could ever tally, but again make no mistake about this, In balance on a scale, what I have given is monsterously out weighed by what I recieved in return. I started out in med surg then went to nicu, then to mental health, then nursing homes and now private duty peds special needs kids. I am the person who worked 12 hours to complete an 8 hour shift in the nursing home, because during the 8 hours of work there were actual human beings that needed my attention so I gave that and stayed to finish chores and paperwork. I am the nurse that was in the office every morning fighting for patients rights, I am the nurse who spent days in the hospital when my patients were admitted and their parents were unable to be there. My mouth was rarely shut when it came to matters of patient care and saftey, respect of staff and patients, I was a pain in the (&%^ to administration sometimes. However, I have lasting friendships with many family members and friends of former patients, my son has people that are his addopted "aunts and uncles" from these friendships. I can't imagine what my life would have been without these circumstances because this is what I do and what fullfills me. It has been for me and it has been a blessing to me to have the ability to do it. I just simply can't anymore! I believe I am tapped out. I'm not burdened by my work, I don't give a rats $&*( about the money, I don't have a problem with co-workers or administration. It's a 1 to 1 ratio in private duty, and there is no politics in my job. I just ran out of gas, my tires are flat and my block cracked, I'm done. I hope some of you who are contemplating leaving nursing really search your soul and if you really feel that you can make a difference and if you feel you have the strength to fight and loose and fight again, I hope you try. If you really feel that what you get is not enough, no matter if that is pay or another kind of payment then maybe it's time to go. Just remember there are many things worth fighting for and it isn't always dollars and cents. I hope nursing can elevate a bit I do pray for that. I hope you all find what feeds you, it's the only way that you can really give unselfishly. This has been a fun ride.....see ya. Mimi

I think we are getting awfully "puffy" in the head if we think that Flo should be tossed to the curb. Why is it that when something progresses we immediately want to disregard the founders of the institution? The struggles she faced and the courage it took to forge this path for MEN and women should weigh heavily in someones recognition. Nursing would not be better without Flo... Nursing would not BE without Flo.

"That Florence Nightengale stuff" Yeah, we wouldn't want to listen to her.... after all... What does she know about nursing?

"Abnormal Lifestyle" ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Please give us the definetion of a "Normal Lifestyle" As far as I know...Normal is a setting on my washing machine. That's about it. Shame on you

No Baby, You will be the better nurse at this point unless she developes some empathy. That is one of the battles that we must fight as nurses in our selves. I really think that you understand what is being promoted here. From what you say, You are seeing the fact that situations will arise when you have to just act for the patients welfare because in all situations you MUST keep your GOAL in mind. That is the patients welfare. You also consider their emotional well being part of their welfare and you should and so you at the time make the decision whether it is better for THEM (not you) that you spend those next minutes doing or explaining so that you can do with them in a good frame of mind. Does that sentence make any sense to you...I'm not sure If I explained well. It sounds jumbled to me, but You have to make nursing decisions and sometimes you have to make them very quickly. You will learn to do quicker evals. on what is needed at the time, I know YOU will because you question it all. You should...We all should! And for anyone of us to tell her that it is wrong for her to debate or question these things....Shame on you. Ego's need to go bye-bye! Question everything that gives you doubt, make sure you truly understand what you are doing and why and be sure that you agree with it or at least see the reason for it, This is how we become the strong intellegent nurses that we are expecting our patients to depend on. I don't ever want a nurse that does something that she feels is wrong or doubts just because she was told to do it. And if that takes a few extra minutes to do that it is because you are focusing on the patients welfare....now that being said, there are times that their welfare depends on you acting and not talking. I personally would want someone like you in charge of my care because I could depend on you to make the best decision at the time taking my whole being into consideration. I know that because I see you questioning in every one of your posts what is the best thing for your patient. The delima is to balance our empathy with our responsibility and we cannot even attempt to do this without questioning and debating. Don't stop this, even when you are considered a troublemaker, your patients depend on it.

Hey, every now and then I get something right.

I am getting that corvette guy is saying that anal sex presents it's own problems even in a monogams relationship, could that be right corvette guy?

Oh heck no, you're not alone by any means. And here's what I think...What a healthy way to relieve stress. Other than a headache now and then from crying , it's the best way to clean away and freshen up. Just like a good rain. Did you ever see the movie "Broadcast News" ? Holly Hunter does it every morning before she goes into her world of stress and then functions just fine. Good for you for crying instead of pouring all your stress out on to others, It has to come out somehow or it makes you sick.

Thank you very much James, you gave me some places to start.

I was wondering if there were some PDN's out there who could give me some advice. I have worked private duty peds in home for the past 8 years, I work through an agency but would like to know how it works when you are on your own. How do you find patients, who do you bill, how do you deal with your own health and other insurance? I'd appreciate it if someone could take the time to help me with these questions. Thanks

I'm not sure this is fair. This poster is asking a question concerning the wellfair of people. That shows me that she has the patients welfare utmost in mind. No where did she say that we should not act in an emergency when needed. She only questioned why she has not seen an overall attitude regarding this issue for patients and even for herself as a patient. To question her desire to be a nurse does not seem to be the issue here as she is already showing concern for patients rights. As nurses, you bet we have the responsibility to explain procedures to our patients, That attempt must be made, and then yes...for crying out loud...if you have an 89 year old confused patient flailing about you may have to just act and not continue to try to explain. That is a nursing judgement, and certinally in emergency situations this would hold a different priorety. But please do not let our ego's deny her stand which she is stating most respectively. What she is asking for is respect back and wanting to give this to her patients. I have been a nurse for 33 years, and yes, I would call out any nurse, doctor, or tech. for not explaining to me or to a loved one or to anyone what they are about to do and why. And I have! Because this is the profession that you choose does not mean that you have to agree with all that you see to be a part of it. I think it is very good to have new eyes to point out some things that we forget or overlook in our very busy schedules. This is how we continue our high standards and progress.

Please do not choose nursing. Your focus, from what you say is not on nursing but on how much money you will make. This should not be the reason anyone becomes a nurse. In My Opinion only, You may be a wonderful person and I am not taking anything away from that. However we already have enough people in nursing who's goals are money and power, I was hoping to see a change in that before I leave this earth. I truly mean no offense.

As I read through this thread I begin to see a pattern, this has something to do with being 29?....maybe? But seriously, being overloaded is enough to do this to you. Your brain can only hold so much and soon the overflow is lost . However I do think you should see a Doc as Marie says. It is very likely that you are not eating and resting well and could be deficent in something. Now when you get to my age and it happens again...well, just go with it.

Mother Theresa said it best: People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered; Forgive them anyway! If you are kind people may accuse you of selfish, unterior motives; Be kind anyway! If you are sucessful you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Be sucessful anyway! If you are frank and honest some people may cheat you; Be frank and honest anyway! What you spend years building someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway! If you find serenity and happiness they may be jealous; Be happy anyway! The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway! Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway! You see in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway!