When did you earn your wings?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

We are angels of mercy. Despite politics, administration, and corporate control ...we want to take care of people.

When did you feel you had achieved YOUR real meaning of being a nurse?

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

What a thought provoking question.

I don't think that I will ever achieve MY real meaning of being a nurse. It is a gradual and continual learning process. I realize that there is still so much to learn, so many things that I haven't been exposed to, so many situations that I haven't found myself in, yet know that I could at any given moment.

The end result is that I STRIVE to learn more, experience more and teach more. As a nurse, I don't expect to run down the field, cross the end zone and spike the ball. There isn't a sense of completion in the big picture; yet there is a sense of completion in the daily tasks that I finish, the plans that are implemented and the feeling of success when my teammates work in harmony to reach a unit specified goal.

I hope to never feel that I have achieved my real meaning. I hope that it eludes me just enough to make me strive HARDER.

This is why I think that nursing is beautiful-there IS no end to what you can learn.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

I agree. Great question.

There are a couple of things that made me feel like I might be a decent nurse. Some times I feel like a complete failure. Most of the time I don't feel either way. It's really a day to day thing.

[itsmejuli]

We are angels of mercy. Despite politics, administration, and corporate control ...we want to take care of people.

When did you feel you had achieved YOUR real meaning of being a nurse?

In my mind I've never defined a goal within my nursing life to reach.

I take everything one day at a time. In my job, on a daily basis, I feel as though I'm being challenged and learning something new. This is what I really like about nursing. So for me, I earned my "wings" when I started nursing school.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

I work in a field dominated by women, on a unit where men are often eyed with distrust. I felt I had answered my calling when, one night on the unit, I had a parent tell me "I wish you were her nurse every night. You're more tender and caring than any of the female nurses, and that really surprises me. At first, we were leery of having a man take care of our baby. Now we hope it's you each night when we walk in."

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I don't know if I ever will earn my wings.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I work in a field dominated by women, on a unit where men are often eyed with distrust. I felt I had answered my calling when, one night on the unit, I had a parent tell me "I wish you were her nurse every night. You're more tender and caring than any of the female nurses, and that really surprises me. At first, we were leery of having a man take care of our baby. Now we hope it's you each night when we walk in."

Wow. There aren't many compliments that would make you feel more appreciated and respected than this. Good for you, Bortaz!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

In response to my original question: I feel ,that after Many years of nursing... I felt My wings sprout when I was attending a hospice patient .. during a very busy night on a step down unit.. when a family member said to me.." we are so glad when you check on us... you have such a calming presence".

It s NOT easy to maintain the proper demeanor when you are forced to jump from an unstable patient.. to a drug seeker... to an end of life patient.

[VivaRN]

lol, every time I think I've "arrived" a situation will come along to challenge me. But hey, that is what life is all about!

Though I did feel my life was complete when I dx'd pharyngeal gonorrhea, rectal gonorrhea, and of course gonorrhea from the member (all different patients).

I felt like I should win a prize!

[brownbook]

It is not the destination i.e., the real meaning of being a nurse, that matters, or even really achievable, it is a (the) journey; the every day things that you do, live, experience, that is important.

[prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP]

I don't know if I will earn them.. but I feel them slightly poking out of my back... I have been called an angel by so many patients in all the settings I have worked and also by people that don't know my profession. Some days I feel clueless and others, I feel proud to call myself a nurse. It makes me feel that one day they will eventually sprout :)

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'm not an angel of mercy, so I have no wings.

But somewhere in my 3rd year, I started to feel like "a real nurse".