Staying Positive in Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Admittedly, we all discuss a lot of what is wrong in our work worlds... But what is going right? For me today, it is great staff that I work with. How about you?

Specializes in cardiac ICU.

I am in quite the same boat as you are - finishing up my Remedial RN coursework after having been out of the field for 20+ years. I am really uneasy about my clinical and don't know what to expect. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

A common theme, but none the less true. The most positive aspect of my job is the absolutely wonderful and supportive staff I am blessed to call co-workers. I's a darn good thing we all get on so well since we seem to see more of each other than our own families lately.

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Specializes in ER, PACU, Med-Surg, Hospice, LTC.

Knowing that the hours I have been assigned will be the ACTUAL hours that I will work. I absolutely hate being asked to stay late. I don't care what the reason is. But, I hate it even more when my employer tells me that I will need to come in 1-2 hours earlier the very next morning.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

I thought of more positive things; I love that learning is never completed in nursing. No matter how long you are a nurse, there are always new things to learn and new areas of nursing to understand. Even after a lifetime of nursing, you will never know everything about each specialty. I tell myself that by nursing and using critical thinking skills I am helping keep my brain young.

And when my body aches and is so tired from running the unit all shift, I tell myself how good it is on my physical health to be active. I see the patients in bed that can't walk or have horrible circulation and the leg sores to prove it, and I think how lucky I am to be able to be physically healthy and that nursing helps keep me that way.

I love those rare, but truly touching moments that I KNOW I made the ultimate difference in a patients life or quality of death. Those moments are special and few in the world ever get the chance to experience that feeling.

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I also love how many patients have touched my life. I often can't remember their names but I still can remember their faces and their stories. There are always a few annoying patients but there are a lot of good people out there. I'm reminded I really don't have it so bad!

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Specializes in PACU, ED.

I enjoy working with fun and intelligent nurses and physicians. I also love my 12 hour shifts, 4 days off a week. The job pays well too. However, the best benefit is seeing a positive difference that I make in the lives of my patients and sometimes their families. A sincere thankyou from patient/family is what really floats my boat.

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Just happy to say I will graduate in 17 days and that I accepted a new grad job offer today! Can't wait to have all these positive experiences that y'all have had with fellow nurses and patients!!! :)

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Nah, got nothing.

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Specializes in Stepdown/PCU - Med/Surg-Tele.

In my current job, I am surrounded by (mostly :cheeky:) wonderful coworkers who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. I have an outstanding manager who genuinely wants the best for all her staff and would do anything for you, and I have many, many sweet patients who are appreciative of the care I give!

Currently, I am looking to take a travel position, and I am blessed to be in a profession that will allow me to travel, a life-long dream of mine, while still making money and making a difference in the lives of others.

It is SO much easier to be negative than positive, especially when you're a nurse and our jobs are so stressful and difficult, physically, emotionally, and mentally. This was a great idea for a topic, so thank you! :smug:

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When all else fails, I remember what my paychecks looked like when I earned minimum wage of $3.25/hr.

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I'm currently finishing up a RN Refresher Course after having stepped out of nursing for a second career. The staff where I'm doing my clinical preceptorship hours are amazing. They put team in teamwork. And everyone has been super supportive and helpful. I was pretty nervous about this part of my course after having lurked around here for awhile and reading some pretty awful things but I've been very relieved and am becoming hopeful about returning to nursing. :)

Welcome back! I'm pleased it is going so well for you :-)

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I have a wonderful boss whom I feel like I can trust. My night shift co-workers are, for the most part, bomb diggity. I work part time so even if I'm having the worst week ever, I know I will soon get a stretch off.

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