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 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.
That letter thing is a GREAT idea!! I go through highs and lows every shift I work, I just started my first nursing job and my ideals, not to mention my limited skills, are getting tested by a harsh reality check! I do enjoy it some of the time though.
I have 8 months to go in my LPN program and than I plan to head right into RN school. When you start your clinicals your excitement will grow even more! I cry sometimes out of pure happiness that I am going to be a nurse. It is so much fun and so gratifying. Enjoy the tough times and the easier times. I noticed school is very cyclical. Sometimes it is so hard I want to cry and other times I breeze through a couple of days or even a week!
My first patient in Med/Surg clincal went MIA on me and didn't sign the AMA form. I thought I would cry or worse be kicked out of school. However, the worst experiences teach you so much! He came back a day later and I took care of him. I learned that you always have to be on your toes and you can't help people unless they are ready. He was the first patient I ever administered medication to and he is the first of many. When you realize that the IV medication you are administering is what will make them better and that you are responsible for it...WOW, nothing better! My first patient in Fundamentals cried when I left. I cried too. I realized that I had done something for her that she was so greatful for. Not all patients are like this, but man when they are your heart swells!
Good luck...study hard! :balloons:
That letter thing is a GREAT idea!! I go through highs and lows every shift I work, I just started my first nursing job and my ideals, not to mention my limited skills, are getting tested by a harsh reality check! I do enjoy it some of the time though.
I had no thought of being a nurse, I was going to college to be an English Teacher. My best friend at the time, sugested taking LPN training so I could work while going to school. She had to explain to me what an LPN was, that's how much nursing was not on my mind. After I graduated and was working at the hospital where I trained on a medical floor I became very depressed. My patients were all dying- lots of cancer, lupis, CHF, chronic lung, etc. I just couldn't take that...I was supposed to heal and help people and this just wasn't happening, plus I worked nights, and well it was just more than I barganed for. I remember sitting on the front porch at my mothers house crying and telling her I had made a very big mistake, I loved nursing but I couldn't live with the fact that I couldn't save people. ( silly me)
Mom went upstairs and came down with a letter that my aunt had written to me when I was 5 or 6 years old. She was the oldest of my mothers 17 siblings. It appears she had been trying to find work which was hard for her being uneducated. Anyway the day I was born she got a job. In the letter she told me that she felt I was her gift from heaven and she took me to church and dedicated me (what ever that means). She said in the dedication that I would become a nurse, aparently she had wanted to be a nurse and could not read or write no education.
She died when I was 10 years old, so she never had a chance to tell me this and my mother never mentioned it or even encouraged me in nursing, said she had even forgot about the letter till that day. However after reading the letter, mom said that she talked about it all the time, how I was going to be a nurse and take care of people and she would be so proud of me. God It's hard not to cry just thinking about this. My mom redefined the word "revelation" for me that day. I think my aunt wrote the letter that I read every year when I need to give myself a pep talk. It's been a long time since I've told that story to anyone, hope I didn't take too much time.
I had no thought of being a nurse, I was going to college to be an English Teacher. My best friend at the time, sugested taking LPN training so I could work while going to school. She had to explain to me what an LPN was, that's how much nursing was not on my mind. After I graduated and was working at the hospital where I trained on a medical floor I became very depressed. My patients were all dying- lots of cancer, lupis, CHF, chronic lung, etc. I just couldn't take that...I was supposed to heal and help people and this just wasn't happening, plus I worked nights, and well it was just more than I barganed for. I remember sitting on the front porch at my mothers house crying and telling her I had made a very big mistake, I loved nursing but I couldn't live with the fact that I couldn't save people. ( silly me)
Mom went upstairs and came down with a letter that my aunt had written to me when I was 5 or 6 years old. She was the oldest of my mothers 17 siblings. It appears she had been trying to find work which was hard for her being uneducated. Anyway the day I was born she got a job. In the letter she told me that she felt I was her gift from heaven and she took me to church and dedicated me (what ever that means). She said in the dedication that I would become a nurse, aparently she had wanted to be a nurse and could not read or write no education.
She died when I was 10 years old, so she never had a chance to tell me this and my mother never mentioned it or even encouraged me in nursing, said she had even forgot about the letter till that day. However after reading the letter, mom said that she talked about it all the time, how I was going to be a nurse and take care of people and she would be so proud of me. God It's hard not to cry just thinking about this. My mom redefined the word "revelation" for me that day. I think my aunt wrote the letter that I read every year when I need to give myself a pep talk. It's been a long time since I've told that story to anyone, hope I didn't take too much time.
that has to be the best story ever, i'm trying not to cry but i'm already tearing up, you have someone very special pulling for you.
:) Oh my goosh I thought I was the only person whose eyes fill up with tears when I think of the reality that one day I will become an RN. I just get so exicted knowing that one day I will be in nursing school learning all the things I need to know to become a nurse. It makes me feel proud knowning that I have chosen a career not only because of the good pay I will be making, but also because I love helping patients. I'm also hooked on discovery health chanel especially the ones that focous on the roles of nurses.
I had no thought of being a nurse, I was going to college to be an English Teacher. My best friend at the time, sugested taking LPN training so I could work while going to school. She had to explain to me what an LPN was, that's how much nursing was not on my mind. ...
What a beautiful, touching story! Thank you for sharing it.
It Is A Wonderful Feeling!!!! I've Been A Nurse For About Six Weeks Now And I Have To Say That My Days Can Go Up And Down!!! I Think We All Go Through Reality And Shock But It's Still All Worth It!!! Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself Out There!!! Again Congrats, Amartin
I think the first time it really hit me that I'm a nurse...after being a CNA for 13 years, was when I went in to a patients room for something...and stopped short of saying..I'll get the nurse!!!Wait I AM the nurse!!! lol!!! It still feels weird to say I'm a nurse. But it feels soooo good!!! Maybe in 15years I'll get used to it, but hopefully it will still bring the same sense of pride and accomplishment I have now.
perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN
1,016 Posts
That letter thing is a GREAT idea!! I go through highs and lows every shift I work, I just started my first nursing job and my ideals, not to mention my limited skills, are getting tested by a harsh reality check! I do enjoy it some of the time though.