Happy New Year, friends, colleagues, and nurse enthusiasts!
It's been a busy, challenging, and thought provoking year à chez Ixchel. Certainly a lot of lessons learned. Here's a summary of what I can recall at this moment:
1. "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger," said no nurse, ever.
2. Night shift takes 2 full days of recovery time.
3. Never, ever, ever utter the word "bored" on the full moon on a holiday inside the walls of a hospital. Don't even do it in the parking lot. In fact..... If you have ever in your life received a paycheck from any place that offers medical care, never say the word "bored" on a holiday during a full moon regardless of where you are.
4. I cannot believe how much blood can pour out of a healthy young person while pouring nonstop fluids and blood back into them before you lose their pulse.
5. It is not "helpful" to have the in laws pick up the kids at noon for lunch after a very sleep deprived 3-night stretch. (No matter how absurd he may think that sounds.)
6. It actually is normal to take a couple of days to recover from these long and brutal shifts.
7. When I compartmentalized my patients, thinking of them as science in my nurse brain, I can give compassionate/empathetic, yet unemotionally involved care. The second my mom brain turns on, it brings me to my knees.
8. The charge nurses I was warned about turned out to be worth the warning. This was so disappointing to discover.
9. I survived my first year after licensure and I've realized I'm a good nurse.
10. You should still never remove an African American woman's wig. I'm pretty sure that story will never die.
11. The human body WANTS to live. This helps me stay calm when the patient is crashing.
12. I love code team.
13. I suck at IVs and I'm not sure this will change.
14. After having three patients with life-long, life threatening complications after a surgery I will hopefully be getting soon, I'm afraid.
15. It takes at least 4 days off work to feel fully recharged to go back.
16. Day shift is hell.
17. Some shifts, success depends on having a great tech.
18. I'm still thankful for an intact and fully functioning rectum.
19. I have a terrible, overwhelming fear and hatred for progressive neurological disorders, which doesn't help me be an impartial nurse or granddaughter.
20. Being a nurse has changed me. I am sad more frequently, and I have less patience for what people perceive as problems (when in all actuality, these "problems" are more minor inconveniences).
21. Sometimes I forget that the people I am close to aren't desensitized to the same things I am. This has required a few heartfelt apologies.
22. I used to go all out on cooking as a SAHM. Now that I am working? No. I have no effs to give.
23. My children are genuinely interested in the lives I touch as a nurse and will actually ask me what I saw and did at work each week. Sometimes I wonder if my daughter pictures me with a cape and superhero mask when she pictures me at work. Honest to god I love this and wish I could keep them at this curious, interested age forever.
24. This is the most lucrative year my husband and I have ever had as a couple and we have nothing to show for it because baby sitters are expensive.
25. I am ready for grad school.
26. The friendships I've made here have gotten me through quite a bit. Thank you all, and best wishes for a beautiful and awesome 2016!
U2 > New Year's Day
wow. 
Lauraingalls, BSN, RN
169 Posts
I learned that my nursing professors are some amazing people.
I learned that life is too short for regrets.
I learned that you can facebook stalk your future preceptor.
I learned that my kids are rockstars. All 3 were inducted into national junior honor society! (yes I have 3 middleschoolers - set of twins in there)