Things Nurses can be Grateful for!

I love being a nurse, and I'm sure if you're reading this you love it to. It's a career choice that gives as much back as we put into it. Nursing isn't so much a job but a passion for keeping other peoples quality of life at their absolute highest. The season of gift giving is just about over, and it got me thinking about all the things we nurses can be grateful for.

Interesting People: During our shifts we meet, see, and speak with hundreds of people a day. We are given a gift to help people in need from all walks of life. Everyone has their own story to tell and it can be a lot of fun listening to them all. I've heard some pretty interesting stories over the years, as I'm sure you have, and that's all part of the job we love. Patients are not the only interesting people we meet throughout the day, but we also meet any number of specialists, social workers, and therapists. It can be quite invigorating to hear what they have to say to shine a new light on the situation.

Never a Dull Moment: To say our job as a nurse is never dull is an understatement. From the interesting people to the seemingly endless amount of tasks every day, we are always busy. We answer phones, pass meds, insert catheters, process departmental work, draw labs, talk with families, perform search and rescue missions on anything from napkins to hats, and the list only goes on from there.

Education: Becoming an RN and even an LPN requires quite a bit of education (http://www.p
healthservices.com/my-prn/lpn-to-
-how-can-i-find-the-time-/91). Your days of nursing school may be over but your education is just beginning. Not only will you learn every day from all the interesting people you meet each day, but there are all manner of meetings, seminars, conferences, and classes to attend. To say that we are constantly learning is an understatement, but it's also the thing that keeps us relevant, keeps us at the top of our game so we can help out wherever we are needed.

Respect: It’s possibly the greatest gift of them all, respect. Being a nurse is probably one of the most respected professions in the world. We're counted on and trusted by so many people from patients to peers to the average person on the street. When someone finds out that you're a nurse most will say how wonderful that is and they commend you for it. I don't know how many times I have heard that, but it still brings a smile to my face.

This holiday seaso
I hope you reflect on all the great things that being a nurse has given you and will give you. We give so much of ourselves for our jobs and for our patients, and we don't ask for anything in return. We are respected everywhere and we get paid pretty well for doing it. Just remember no matter what you do whether it be an RN or LPN, there is no substitute for the human touch, that only a nurse can provide.