Today I just watched a show I'd Tivo'd. It was a documentary on the Discovery Health Channel called "NURSES". Every episode they follow a group of nurses in a different field. This episode covered L&D along with NICU nurses and CNM's at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. It was fantastic.
Halfway through this documentary I got tear in my eyes. The thought hit me, "I'M GOING TO BE A NURSE." It was like one of those great moments of revelation that happen a few times in your life.
I am not one of those people who definition of themselves is based on the work they do. I am not one who decided to become a nurse at 5 years old. Truly, I did not even consider it a career option for myself until I meet a great group of CRNA's, PACU and OR nurses. Even though for some time decided to study nursing, the thought still startled me.
With all the bad things I've heard (low pay, toxic coworkers, bad administrators, dangerous patients, etc) I am still so excited I can hardly stand it! I am going to be entrusted with the care of sick human beings who will depend on me to be their advocate. I will be allowed to use the lateset in medicine and technology along with good old-fashioned brainpower and critical thinking skills to assure the well-being of another person.
Half-way through that show, I hit the pause button and had to do a little dance in my house. It ws a dance of aknowledgement and gratitude.
Is anyone as excited as I? I could just pop! Do any of you students feel this way? Do any of you nurses still feel this way after practicing?
I've been working on an intermediate medical floor for almost a year now, started out as a new grad. I absolutely love being a nurse. I go through phases at work where it is absolutely crazy and I can't stand it(even though there are still moments when it is great), to having a few weeks of really great shifts, and I love it. Sometimes when people ask me how work is going, and I get to talking about it, people seem amazed and really respect what we do. It makes me start to think about the moments at work that are so very important to our patients and their families. I think about patients of mine that have passed away, and that I was the last person with them when they were alive making them as comfortable as I could, and I am honored that I am given that job. Or the patients that some nurses just don't click with, but when they see you come through the door, you can see how happy they are that you will be their nurse for the next few hours. And I think it's absolutely amazing to get a package or a bouquet of flowers sent to the hospital with MY name on it, when I don't know how in the world they managed to remember my name, but to know that I had that much of a positive impact in someone's life at such a difficult time, makes me love my job even that much more!
Don't worry, when you graduate we'll slap that excitement right out of and eat you for lunch.
hehehe.........rock on!
Ohhh Tweety, LMAO!!!
25 year veteran here, not working "hands on" any more, but still proud to be a nurse. A noble profession we have, I have a whole load of fond memories of patients whose lives I have touched, and who touched my life. It reminds me of the quote, "some people come and go into and out of our lives.. and some people leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same"
bahama papa, :chuckle I WATCHED TOO, i seem to watch DHC everyday now for all the Birth Day, Amazing Baby, I lost it, Residents and so on and so forth lol, congrats, i get that feeling too, this is going to sound really sad and crazy lol, but i i'm doing clinicals at one hospital and classes on campus, so saturday at like 11 pm i drove down Broad St in Philly to see the hospital i would be doing clinicals at crayz i know...good luck and you will do excellent of course you have no choice, cause i will hunt you down and make you represent bahamas proudly :) later :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I'm going to be a nurse.
Half-way through that show, I hit the pause button and had to do a little dance in my house. It ws a dance of aknowledgement and gratitude.
Is anyone as excited as I? I could just pop! Do any of you students feel this way? Do any of you nurses still feel this way after practicing?
I'M GOING TO BE A NURSE!!!
oh hell yea, I remember that feeling. And guess what, after 8 years, I still feel that way------I am thrilled to have the privelege to do what I do. I love being an OB nurse. Hold onto that feeling; don't let go! And use it to keep you strong in school. Good luck.
Isn't it great to finally discover what you would like to do with the rest of your life? When first contemplating nursing as a career choice, I felt like it was a way I could truly "make a difference" in the lives of other human beings. I was passionate & idealistic & full of joy like yourself, and couldn't wait to start.
The pathway is tough, as is the job itself. What you describe right now is the "honeymoon phase". You may discover highs & lows both through school & in the job -- some days you may even hate it. Just don't forget the way you feel now, and how important this job really is & why you originally chose to become a nurse -- for you may need to remember this period in order to help you get through future rough experiences (ex. the "reality shock" of your first real nursing job).
And hey, thanks for reminding me of how I felt before starting nursing school -- it reminds me of how much I've accomplished & how potentially fullfilling & truly important this job is. Best of wishes to you!
I feel EXACTLY the same way! I am so proud to tell people when they ask what I do that I'm starting starting nursing school in (Holy crap!) 2 weeks. I well up when I watch these shows, too. I'm so happy that at age 37 I'm finally excited about what I'm going to do with the rest of my life (better late than never, right?)
I think, in some ways (psychologically, anyway) you are already a nurse.
I have been a nurse for 21 years, and I still feel that way!!!
Nursing is a noble profession!
I never get down about the fact that I'm a Nurse and a patient advocate, but at times it is hard to work beside nurses who are only in it for other reasons ( ie, money)
Keep that spirit! Write yourself a letter now, and make an appointment to read it every year so your now self can give your future self a pep talk when you need it.
I, too, have watched the Discovery Health channel (I'm really hooked!) and I've enjoyed watching the Nurses program. I think though that it is actually working with the nurses on the floor (I'm a unit coordinator), that I'm able to see some of what they do, and I too, can say that I want to be a nurse.
crayz i know...good luck and you will do excellent of course you have no choice, cause i will hunt you down and make you represent bahamas proudly :) later :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:
sox04
12 Posts
I've been working on an intermediate medical floor for almost a year now, started out as a new grad. I absolutely love being a nurse. I go through phases at work where it is absolutely crazy and I can't stand it(even though there are still moments when it is great), to having a few weeks of really great shifts, and I love it. Sometimes when people ask me how work is going, and I get to talking about it, people seem amazed and really respect what we do. It makes me start to think about the moments at work that are so very important to our patients and their families. I think about patients of mine that have passed away, and that I was the last person with them when they were alive making them as comfortable as I could, and I am honored that I am given that job. Or the patients that some nurses just don't click with, but when they see you come through the door, you can see how happy they are that you will be their nurse for the next few hours. And I think it's absolutely amazing to get a package or a bouquet of flowers sent to the hospital with MY name on it, when I don't know how in the world they managed to remember my name, but to know that I had that much of a positive impact in someone's life at such a difficult time, makes me love my job even that much more!