What are you thankful for?

[country mom]

We all know nursing is well, you know....

With Thanksgiving coming up, how about a discussion of why we're glad we do what we do? Finish this sentence: I'm glad I'm a nurse because:

:typing

Here's mine:

- In 13 years, I've never been laid off, never unemployed, and have never had to worry about where I was going to work. (unlike many of my friends and family). It may not always be my "dream job", but at least I can feed my family.

- I understand how valuable and fleeting that life really is. We really only are here for a short time- make every day count.

- Every day I can get out of bed, shower and get dressed, I thank God- because I know alot of folks who would give anything just to be able to do that much.

- nursing has taught me to value my friends and family- something many people don't learn in a lifetime.

[rn2bn07, BSN, RN]

I am thankful for the courage and strength God has given me in order to suceed in such a leadership and demanding field. We as nurses are all leaders and very resourceful to many friends and family, believe it or not they think we have the answers to everything.:icon_roll

I am also thankful for being the one to produce laughter and a change of thought, maybe just for a little while, with someone who has chronic pain, or an unexpected diagnosis.

I am even more thankful that although nursing is not an easy laid back job, I can always rely on this and call this my career and not my job, because it will follow me throughout my lifetime. I love it! :redpinkhe

[danissa, LPN, LVN]

I am Thankful for.... my really curly hair, as every morning, with straightening irons in hand..I have a choice!!!:bow:

And seriously, more than anything else..for those I love and who love me....thats the only REAL thing to be thankful for!!!!

[Midwest4me]

I'm thankful for God (the only REAL--and most important--thing to be thankful for)who loves me and provides for me when I know deep down that I don't deserve it.

I'm thankful for a caring, loving husband, siblings and 8 grandkids!

I'm thankful for being provided a job through which I can make as little or as much as I want through the glory of overtime opportunities!

[ShayRN]

I am so thankful for:

1) A wonderful supportive husband who supports me through any decision I have made since nursing school.

2) My two beautiful children who are healthy and happy.

3) A wonderful career that I love most days, lol.

4) A roof over my head and food on my plate. (My grandma told me all the time when I was growing up THIS is what makes ya rich!)

5) The miracles I have seen.

6) The honor to be at the bedside of those that die. (I often whisper in their ear to go to God and at times when I have cared for them for awhile and know they would appreciate the humor i ask them to remember to say nice things about their kind nurse when they meet him:nurse:)

7) My health! OMG! I see so many people who have spent their entire lives being sick. I thank God every day that I am healthy. I think this is why my weight don't bother me so much. My poor little frail cancer patients just break my heart!

[nickos]

This is a wonderful post. I am thankful to YOU for starting this thread! :)

I fairly often find myself losing perspective at difficult times in my life, and feel frustrated or sorry for myself when life circumstances (that are either "just life" or results of my own choices) get overwhelming. I am thankful for a job that I thoroughly enjoy, coworkers that I can laugh and cry with, a good living wage, a wonderful roommate, a fantastic and supportive best friend, the best and most supportive mother anyone could ever ask for, and last but certainly not least my own health and home.

I have many things to be grateful for, and I am especially grateful for those things and moments that remind me how truly lucky I am and continue to be. These times of reflection keep me motivated to stay on track and give me hope for the future.

:)

[Scrubby]

I'm thankful most of my patients are asleep and that I don't have to deal with annoying relatives. I don't really care if this seems like a bad attitude, i'm sick of dealing with needy people. I can take better care of them without being constantly distracted.

I'm thankful I work mon to fri and can have a life outside of work and don't have ridiculous hours.

I'm thankful I don't work nights any more and have to take two temazepan and two panadeine forte just to be able to sleep for five hours in the daytime.

[suanna]

I'm thankful that as a nurse I'm able to work only weekends and aviod a lot of the politics and managerial busy work that infests M-F and still earn enough to support my family.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I'm thankful to be back in floor nursing again! Even though it's kicking this 50-year-old butt, I am sooooooooo glad I escaped management and came back to what it's all about. Tonight, as I was passing out pills and changing wound dressings, I had a chance to talk with people as I haven't in years, getting to know them and hear their stories. That's what I missed so much, the human contact and the little moments of intimacy when patients drop their guard and confide in me. Yes, I'm VERY thankful for the privilege of making a difference again!

[Pudnluv, ASN, RN]

I am thankful I have a job to go to that I truly love. I am thankful that that job has allowed me to support my family, keep our home, cars, etc while my husband was out of work. I am thankful my job has allowed my daughter to go to college. I am thankful for all the interesting patients I have met (some have the most amazing stories!). I am thankful for my coworkers who have become my other family. I am thankful that I've learned that no matter how bad my life may seem at times, I know true suffering and nothing in my life has ever been that bad.