I know I have been slacking on this, but since I have ran across this blog I always love getting the weekly e-mails with fun writing prompts to get you to step out of your usual blogging fashion and write more outside the box. This week I chose:
’10 reasons why you love your job’
1. I only work 36 hours a week split into 3 days (or now nights I should say). This leaves 4 entire days free to spend with my family which I love!
2. I have wonderful benefits for myself and my family
3. I work in an environment that can be extremely stressful and very emotional, I have gained so many personal skills since I became a nurse that help me in every aspect of my life. I have learned to be more patient, to be a better listener, to be more assertive (sometimes you just have to stand up to those Doctors!), to be an advocat for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I have learned the value of team work, the importance of staying calm and collected in very emotionally driven situations, and that it is ok to become attached to your patients. It is ok to hold their hands, to grieve with them and hurt for them, to pray with them and offer them comfort. I always worried in school that I would not know how to deal with death or dying, how I could possibly comfort them or their family, and as I have grown it is one of my greatest strengths.
4. My work has brought me closer to my faith
5. I get to wear pajamas all day (aka scrubs)
6. Every day is a new experience, with a new patient, new family member, new plan of care. No two patients are alike so there is never time to get bored
7. With every tragedy, I am reminded just how precious life is and how blessed I am for everything God has given me
8. My flexible schedule that allows me to be able to visit my family in California often
9. Good potlucks
10. Being able to work along side the best group of nurses I could ever imagine. The day I started this job I knew that they would all soon become more than just co-workers, and over the last 2 years that is exactly what they are to me. I felt so inferior when I was new, wondering how I could ever possess the skills and knowledge that they do, the years of experience some of them hold exceed the number of years I have been alive. I wondered how I could ever measure up, how I would ever fit in. They proved me wrong so fast. The support and training I received, the encouragement and advice, the suggestions and the warm welcomes all proved me wrong. It may have taken me awhile, but I do fit in, I do have the knowledge, I do have the confidence to care for the sickest of the sick and know that I give every patient 100%. I love my fellow nurses like they are my own family, and am honored to be a part of such a wonderful unit.
In case you were wondering, I am an ICU nurse. While it may not be the most glamourous of jobs, I wear my badge with great pride.
Great to hear you love your job so much. It’s such an important job too. I spent a lot of time in the hospital with my mom and our nurses were angels…so I appreciate your chosen profession!
You are an amazing nurse…and like you I was a brand new nurse straight into the ICU. You did a fantastic job on describing the emotions and experience that I have had. You are great with words, thank you so much for all that you do. I still want my pictures to be taken, for Christmas cards. Love you
I totally love your list! I can also relate. Although not a nurse I worked in the medial field for 10 yrs. At one point I too pulled the 3 day 36hr schedule in the deep night at a hospital. I agree about always meeting new family members and patients.
I worked that shift when my daughter was a baby ( she is now 11) and I loved that I got to spend so much time with her during those formative years:)
I’ve been in the ICU enough to know that a.) it’s not somewhere I’d like to work and b.) nurses like you make difficult times just a little more comfortable. Thank you!
I too am an ICU RN so I can totally relate to this post and like you, I am very proud of my job. I don’t think there is any other job out there in the world for me.
Mama Kat sent me over here. :)
From one nurse to another… keep doing what you do.
Your doing it for all the right reasons and the patients can sense that… and benefit from it in so many ways.
Stopping by from Mama Kat’s workshop.
I’m very proud of you and I’m glad you are doing something that allows you to grow in faith and as a person, spend time with those you love and make a difference in the lives of others. You kick butt! I love you.