We all need something that makes us wake up and give the dawn of our new day a great big ole Cosmic Howdy. Now that I'm retired, I don't need something to get me motivated, I'm already there.
But there were days in the past, when I saw Monday come dawning, the world woke up yawning, and Friday seemed so far away.
I looked forward to Friday. TGIF.
What kept me going all those years? Well, of course if I wanted to get what I wanted and/or needed; I had to work in order to pay my way.
Our jobs as Nurses are stressful. I chose to become a Nurse because the work was interesting, the pay was pretty good, it was a sturdy profession, and I could see myself as a contributing member of society.
But that's not what always motivated me for a good portion of my career. There were days when the fear of going to work was outweighed only by the fear of what might happen if I didn't go to work, and that's what motivated me.
Sometimes I needed to use a little assistive device that I made, powered by a combustible engine, called The Motivator:
The Motivator assisted me in in overcoming the hardest thing to get, which was going.
Do you have your very own Motivator that gets you going?
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
2 minutes ago, LibraNurse27 said:
So far my facebook messages have been unanswered
Well, good luck! Sincerely I do wish you all the best, I hope your hard work brings you the things in life you're working for. And if nursing doesn't come through, I hope one of those facebook messages works out.
Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.
1 minute ago, JBMmom said:
Well, good luck! Sincerely I do wish you all the best, I hope your hard work brings you the things in life you're working for. And if nursing doesn't come through, I hope one of those facebook messages works out.
Thank you! And as @Sour Lemon mentioned, I have an apartment, running water, and food, which here in America unfortunately means I'm doing better than most people. Good reminder to focus on gratitude for what we have and not always wish for more/better/bigger. Thanks!
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
6 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:
1. Everyone who has ever lived has suffered through things they didn't want to do and experiences they didn't want to have. I'm sharing in the commonality of the human experience, and I guess it gives me things to think about and talk about.
2. My life is relatively easy. I don't have to drink water from a crocodile-infested pond or outmaneuver hungry lions, I can just "work" for a few hours, then go to a vending machine or turn on a facet. What do I have to complain about?
3. I enjoy the novelty of new experiences and observing new people and new situations.
4. Practical reasons and blah, blah, blah.
I don't usually quote whole posts, but I really couldn't decide which of your four I loved most. So spot on!
I started working when I was legally able at 16yo. Prior to that I did odd jobs for extra cash (baby sitting etc). My motivating factor was money but also because that is what was expected, to be responsible, earn your own keep and be a productive member of society . Of course at younger ages it was just for extra cash for movies, records (yep records!), and clothes etc. As I got older, prior to nursing, the motivator stayed the same, be responsible etc. When I became a nurse I added wanting to do something more to contribute to society. In my last job prior to retirement, after working for years and years, my motivator became saving for retirement and looking forward to enjoying the fruits of my labors. That said, most days I needed coffee plus a machine like yours to not just poke me in the head but kick my whole body out of bed and to work!
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 2/28/2021 at 5:55 PM, JBMmom said:
the patient still held my hand tight and just kept mouthing "thank you". The moments might be few and far between, but the times that I feel that I might really have made a difference for someone, and never knowing when or where those moments will arise, is why I'm generally pretty happy to go to work.
Extremely touching story, JBMmom- and well told.
Posts like this one of yours are meant to be read over and over again.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
10 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:
most days I needed coffee plus a machine like yours to not just poke me in the head but kick my whole body out of bed and to work!
I could identify with you all the way until this line, Daisy.
On 2/28/2021 at 3:22 PM, Davey Do said:
We all need something that makes us wake up and give the dawn of our new day a great big ole Cosmic Howdy. Now that I'm retired, I don't need something to get me motivated, I'm already there.
I've so very much to be thankful for. I can put it no better than Sour Lemon.
But every morning I wake up, give the dawn of our new day a great big ole Cosmic Howdy, and look forward to doing my art.
We all need that- we all need something to make us look forward to our day; to being alive.
Wedgepressure has it, in saying, "My motivator is that my job is fun, and I have to feed my family. Both are motivation enough".
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
37 minutes ago, JBudd said:
I just like spending money.... so, I go to work!
At Wrongway, I worked with a 70 year old Nurse who, although cynical & sarcastic, was positive and outgoing.
Sometime ago, she had lost a son when he was in his 40's. Then, in the past few years, she had gone into cardiac arrest and revived while in outpatient surgery. Six weeks later, she returned to work.
When I saw her, I said, "Jeeze- the least you could do is have a little ashen color! You look great!"
I once asked her why she continued working, and she said the same thing you did, JBudd, about liking to spend money.
But I sense there's something deeper here with the two of you- some sort of life driving force, some motivator- that we mere mortals don't possess.
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
5 hours ago, Davey Do said:
I once asked her why she continued working, and she said the same thing you did, JBudd, about liking to spend money.
I work with a unit coordinator who celebrated her 75th birthday a few months ago. She's been coming to work on a broken leg, only called out the day she needed surgery, and she wheeled around on her knee cart for weeks. She openly admits she's a shopaholic and she often buys coworkers extraordinarily expensive gifts (I got a $150 vest for my birthday). She's funny and hardworking and I LOVE working with her. It's just something in her, she's a worker. She doesn't sit still and she has no family in the area other than her husband. I think that the job is a huge part of her social circle and her reason to get up and go in the morning.
But I sense there's something deeper here with the two of you- some sort of life driving force, some motivator- that we mere mortals don't possess.
Yes, well, I like my patients, I like most of my coworkers, and miracle of miracles, I even like my current manager and director. Pushing 25 years in the ER just now. And I'm only in my 60's! Let's not jump the gun here.
Money and more money! I love when I see a new business, being able to make an offer or squeeze myself in with some cash infusion.
It gives me choices! So many good businesses and investments now.
Nursing is just icing on the cake! Nursing allows my selfishness to flourish when you make that connection and can empathize with someone to the point of sympathico conversations!
It's the best thing about Psych for me. To nourish a glimmer and fan a flame of hope. Offer a different perspective when you make that connection.
Nothing better than having patients look forward to your presence because you are connecting!
JBMmom, MSN, NP
4 Articles; 2,537 Posts
Well, good luck! Sincerely I do wish you all the best, I hope your hard work brings you the things in life you're working for. And if nursing doesn't come through, I hope one of those facebook messages works out.