So What do you LIKE about nursing?

[LogCabinMom]

With all the threads on here about what's going wrong with new grads' jobs, I'd like to start one about what people LIKE about their jobs.

I love it when patients really, truly appreciate what I do for them. When they need help desperately for something, and I'm there to give it, whether it's wiping their butt, giving them pain meds, whatever, that's why I became a nurse.

Anyone else?

[patwil73]

I like the excitement that can happen - the extraordinary variety that each day can bring. I like the people I work with and the boost I get when we can work together to help someone.

I like making a difference.

Pat

[Jules A, MSN]

Great thread. I love my kids, the fast paced environment and definitely the pay.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

Love my job! Love my coworkers, love my patients (mostly!), love learning stuff every day.

[Terpole]

not a lot, really

[stellina615]

I like knowing that what I do is important to someone, even when I don't always realize it. I work in psych and a big part of my job is being a supportive and nonjudgemental person for patients to talk to. As nurses, we often become used to being part of a patient's or family's crisis and don't always realize the important impact we can have. One of my patients recently wrote me a thank you letter telling me how I helped him to build self-confidence and to believe in himself, and said that he will always keep me in his thoughts because of the way I helped him through a crisis. It made me feel so happy about the work I do and the decision I made to go into the nursing field. I re-read that letter all the time!:heartbeat

[Nurseismade RN]

love my patients.....most of them anyway!!!

[jode]

Over the past 30 odd years I have loved the FLEXIBILITY of this profession. I have done Med-Surg, peds, crtitical care, ED, physician office, supervision, quality management - traveled, and worked with the IHS. I am now going back to school so I can teach nursing.

I love those times when I have made a difference in someone's life.

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I like (in no paticular order):

-almost all of my co-workers (RNs, MDs, PAs, techs, transport)

-my manager

-the autonomy

-the amount of standing orders which allow me to begin treating a pt (line, labs, xrays, certain meds, etc)

-the amount of free time I get working 12s

-figuring out what's going on with my pts

-not knowing what's coming in through the door

-not sitting behind a desk pushing paper

-not having to wear a tie

-getting that hard stick

-having a pt say "thank you"

-having the family say "thank you"

-teaching pts and families.

-learning all the time

[americanlatina313]

although i am currently job-less, i still love nursing! and here are a few of the reasons why:

• getting a hug from a little old lady as a "thank you" just for helping her up to the bsc. :heartbeat
  
• pt's family members saying "thank you for taking such good care of my mom":flowersfo
  
• watching a pt who had vomited 4x within a 1/2 hr period, become nausea & vomiting-free after 25mg of phenergan (long story why it took a half hr)
  
• pts telling me i'm the best nurse :heartbeat
  
• good reports about my care on those ridiculous surveys
  
• calming patients and/or family members by simply explaining what's going on
  
• knowing it's "my fault" somebody is pain-free
  
• having pts recognize me outside of the hospital as "the nice nurse" :kiss
  
• making pts giggle, in spite of the pain
  
• knowing that i'm part of the healing process when caring for a pt with a fetal demise (what a responsibility & privilege!)
  
• the power of a simple touch :redpinkhe
  
• coworkers that are available to help, until i can do it by myself
  
• the ability to help other nurses, since i'm caught up
  
• learning to read doctor's handwriting (feeling of accomplishment!) :chuckle
  
• the feeling that what i'm doing truly is important to other people :nuke:
  
• having pib pts begin to respond to kindness (and become pleasant people!)
  

there is so much more that i could add... but i won't for time (& tiredness) sake. i do love nursing, and no matter what happened with my previous job, it has not taken away my desire to go on, learn more and become the best nurse i can possibly be!

[katgal]

I love my job, the work I do, my co-workers, the hours I work. But the best is when a patient or family member says thank you, or that I am a great nurse. I would never do anything else!

:heartbeat

[abundantjoy07, RN]

What I Like:

The pay and benefits

The 12 hour 3days/wk shifts

Not having to dress up to go to work