11/21: What I've Learned, Thankful Thanksgiving Edition

Nurses General Nursing

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With Ixchel's gracious guidance, Here is this weeks What I Learned This Week. Since Thanksgiving is this week, I want to focus on being thankful for being nurses.

I am thankful that there was a nursing program in my hometown. This is what launched my nursing career. Amazingly, it was the only program I applied to, it never occurred to me to apply any where else. I am thankful that I was even accepted.

Also Thankful that my hometown had a hospital that hired me as a teenage LPN in Labor & Delivery working every Sat & Sun. That job allowed me to continue on for ADN, which led me to a much bigger city, Phoenix AZ. I am glad that although I was a new grad RN, I had a couple of years experience.I am very grateful that I was able to complete my BSN back when there really weren't any RN to BSN programs. I was fortunate to have served in the Navy Nurse Corps. And thankful that so far, have not had student loans. I am thankful to have 2 local universities that have DNP programs.

For those that will be away from your families on Thanksgiving Thursday, myself included, it really is an honor as nurses to be there for patients and patient's families.

What I learned this week: I learned that people of Asian heritage can have Alcohol Induced Red Man Syndrome.

I learned that all the fuss about ICD10 was just that, fuss. It really is making more sense every day.

What are you thankful for this week?

Specializes in Hospice.

I've learned, from reading another thread, that it's perfectly ok to hate your job, question why you ever thought nursing was a good idea in the first place, and generally cry on everyone's shoulder about it.

However, it only seems to apply to new nurses, whether sweet young things or middle aged "second career" nurses.

Those of us who have been doing this for upwards of 25 years have been told at various times that we are just "old, biter nurses", have no ambition because we actually enjoy (or used to enjoy) the "entry level position" that is bedside nursing, and by the way, why don't we just retire or die because we're a bunch of negative Nancys, and don't look nearly as cute in scrubs (with matching stethoscope!) as they do.

I realize this will fall on deaf ears, and I will be dismissed as just another COB who needs to slink off quietly into the night because I simply don't fit into the new nursing norm.

I don't hyperventilate when I have to actually touch sick people. I have no desire to get an advanced degree (you can't seem to walk three feet without tripping over an NP anymore). Management holds no attraction (been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, thanks). I never went to Med school because (gasp!!) I actually WANTED to be a Nurse. I precepted more newbies and herded more students than I can remember, and (mostly) enjoyed it. I got my BSN 36 years ago because "in just a few years it's going to be the minimum standard for nursing". Uh-huh.

Guess what? In spite of all of that, I'm still glad I made the decision to become a Nurse. I'm damned good at what I do, and I enjoy doing it.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Love ya Jensmom!

ETA: I hear you. That's why I mostly stick to Blue. It doesn't "snow" over there. No flakes.

Specializes in Hospice.
Love ya Jensmom!

ETA: I hear you. That's why I mostly stick to Blue. It doesn't "snow" over there. No flakes.

Lol love ya too, Far.

Unfortunately, even when I can hide out in the office during the day, Internet use can be monitored at any time. And when I'm at home...I'm here, and the puter is all the way...over...there...🙃

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

I've learned that using my NuWave is really not going to save me much time. Quoted times for the two:

NuWave 12 minutes per #, thawed.

Oven: 13 minutes per #.

:/

Jensmom: *gives you my judgey face*

I've learned that using my NuWave is really not going to save me much time. Quoted times for the two:

NuWave 12 minutes per #, thawed.

Oven: 13 minutes per #.

:/

Buh??

Specializes in Hospice.
Jensmom: *gives you my judgey face*

Hey, I have to be a good girl and follow the rules SOMETIMES!!

Confuses the bosses so they don't notice when I'm bad lol. [emoji56]

I haven't posted in a WILTW thread in a while...so...even though the topic has strayed a bit, I'm going to post anyways.

Things I have learned or am thankful for:

1. I have decided that while I love my job now, there will be a day I will have outgrown my role or hit a plateau in terms of my growth and development. Regrettably, at some time, I will have to leave this position for something else. I have decided to be proactive and work on grad school part time. I'm thankful to be able to make this decision and know that when I'm ready for more, (likely) all I have to do is apply and interview well.

2. My decision to pursue grad school has been overwhelmingly supported by my coworkers (those I've told).

3. My coworkers are (as always) awesome.

4. Every day I learn something new.

5. I compare where I am now against where I was 4 years ago - in a (comparatively) horrible job. I have the kind of job everyone wants to have (most days).

6. Things that used to stress me out do not anymore.

7. I was habitually plagued by extreme self doubt. Since I've decided to pursue grad school, I've had one instance where I seriously doubted I'll get in where I want to. Compare that to the nearly crippling self-doubt I've had in the past. Progress. Confidence.

8. While we're all flawed, I have a great family.

9. While my life isn't "perfect" by any means, I have a pretty awesome existence.

10. I've made progress with diet and exercise. 5am work outs aren't fun, but at least I get them in that way (going after work is so much harder because I'm not motivated after working 8-10 hours).

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I'm thankful for my incredible team of coworkers. Came into work on Wednesday expecting to do a nice, scheduled, normal case. Nope, my room ended up scrambling to set up for an active aortic dissection. Not only did my team in that OR work well together, but those who were not assigned to an early case were right there with us working to get the room and patient ready to go.

I'm thankful for my family- today, I headed over to my parents, knowing that I'd have to let myself into their house until they got home from the Thanksgiving church service they attend. However, I left my key to their house sitting on my kitchen counter, right next to the purse that I did grab. My sister rescued me and stopped by with her key to let me in before she headed the rest of the way home from the family she had been visiting.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Now that my Thanksgiving shift is almost over:

I am thankful for working with such a great team-yesterday I had a rough two person assignment and had the best help, and today I was able to do the same in return.

I'm thankful that I have dinner and family waiting for me for "Thanksgiving leftovers" meal; it's nice to be able to have a work-life balance filled with mostly joy and laughter.

Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

I'm thankful (and amazed) that while being on call for Thanksgiving, I did not get called in once!

I'm thankful for my incredible team of coworkers. Came into work on Wednesday expecting to do a nice, scheduled, normal case. Nope, my room ended up scrambling to set up for an active aortic dissection. Not only did my team in that OR work well together, but those who were not assigned to an early case were right there with us working to get the room and patient ready to go.

This is an example of how my coworkers are the best. On a Friday, we had an emergency case (hemicrani) that was posted at 0651, placed into the room I would be assigned to at 0652 and nights was really nowhere around (though there may have been some reason). I clocked in early (0651) and started working to get my room ready - my coworkers heard about it and they helped in whatever way possible. Incredible and incredibly helpful - as our patient was in the room before 0705.

I can seriously think of about 15 (or more if I think long enough) examples similar to this. Which is why I think my coworkers are so awesome. We have the most amazing team work. Whenever we're not busy with our own patient care situation we stop by to help coworkers if the excrement is hitting or has the potential to hit the fan in their rooms.

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