Nurses Call the Shots

So, I feel like I've settled into a routine with my family...things are going well, a bit more relaxed as we continue to adjust our lives to accommodate our newest addition. I feel good about where my life stands and is heading on the home front. A part of my life that I feel a growing desire to expand in is my career. I want to focus on who I am as a nurse. Nursing has been a huge part of my adult life. I studied the art and science of nursing for four long tedious years in college ... I could not wait to get my foot in the door at THE Ohio State University Medical Center and experience the research and modern advances in medicine and surgery that happen around that place everyday. I looked forward to making a difference in someone's life everyday that I got out of bed and went to work...not just to make a difference, but to be an influence in a stranger's life...a positive influence. A stranger who is counting on me to be on my toes and take care of the life in my hands that happened to be theirs. I couldn't wait to love my career.

Well, here I am--I've been a nurse at the OSU Medical Center for 2 years now. I go to work, do my job, and come home-- stressed-out, run-down, mind-racing, and on-edge. It is a tough job... mentally, emotionally, & physically. My mind does not leave "nurse-mode" once my body enters my home... in fact I typically have dreams about what valuable information I may have forgotten to pass on to the next nurse during shift change or perhaps forgot to chart... a very uncomfortable feeling. It feels like nurses are tied on a lasso, flung around in the air a couple times, and let go--dizzy and discombobulated--and then expected to provide each of our patients with professional, timely, appropriate, thoughtful, and sincere care... all while trying to fix and convey our apologies for miscommunication or complete LACK of communication between physicians and ancillary departments... and don't forget the phone in your pocket is ringing off the hook because the patient in 5B is throwing up, 74B needs pain meds, and your patient is back from xray and the transporter is getting really angry that you haven't come to the room yet, or you have an admission on the way. WHEW!

After all this, I know nursing is the field for me. I want to re-focus my mind now on how to be that special influence in a stranger's life. People are the most vulnerable when they are in the hospital... the last thing they need is a crappy nurse :). Our problems aren't solved by complaining (although it does feel good to vent sometimes!) or with a poor attitude. Sometimes it helps to remind yourself that yes, this job is tough...and it takes a tough person to do the job, but you came into this profession for a reason! For the past year or so I have had other issues on my mind--marriage, baby-making, and being a new mom...but now I'm feeling better than ever about putting my mind and heart into nursing and becoming the most rockin' nurse I can be!!!! Hallelujah to all you Nurses out there ... Happy Nurses Week!!!

BTW, I posted some nursing links on my sidebar...check them out!! I love the nursing blog Code Blog--there are links to other nursing blogs on that site as well. Enjoy :)