Never Enough
I'm sitting here at home in my apartment, drinking a cup of tea I didn't have to ask for. I have my TV on with a show I don't have to fight over. I drove my car home today. I just got back from my vacation in Spain last week....had a FABULOUS time. I can go into the fridge and eat whatever I want. I'm comfortable in my little apartment; it's my comfort zone. It's not something I really think about, but there are so many little things I have control over that my patients don't. Their control is just about gone when they come to me in the hospital. They're out of their comfort zone, too; as far out as you can be. During a karaoke group, I put myself out of my comfort zone and sang for my patients. I sang "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman. It was terrifying, but I did it for them...perhaps a little bit for myself too. I'm not really sure why I'm saying this, but it's something I'm going to try and be more mindful of, especially for those really difficult patients. It's been pretty hectic lately, and today it was really nice when a patient told me simply "thank you for all your help with me today." They will never know how much that truly meant to me. It's no secret that my job is pretty thankless 9 times out of 10, and it's those little things that give me the drive to keep coming back each day.
A new nurse just started on my unit and I've been teaching her a lot of what I know and what I've learned as a nurse. The first thing I told her was TAKE YOUR BREAKS. They are YOURS and you DESERVE them! She was having a difficult time processing some of what goes on on the unit, and I told her a few things:
Before we are healthcare providers, we are human beings. We have feelings, thoughts and emotions, just like our patients. We have bad days too. We're not robots. We've all had our bad days on the job.
Sometimes you'll forget your face is on the outside.
If you ever need to take 5 or 10 minutes to do whatever you need to do to get through your day, then do it. Nobody's going to fault you. (I've had many take 5's where I've either cried or went to the bathroom to give myself a pep talk).
This job is mentally and emotionally draining...if you let it become that. Hence why I'm only 24 hours a week. Know your limits. You do not have to be the rockstar new grad nurse who is eager mcbeaver and picking up 100 hours of overtime. Be a team player but don't be a push over.
AND TAKE YOUR BREAKS.
A new nurse just started on my unit and I've been teaching her a lot of what I know and what I've learned as a nurse. The first thing I told her was TAKE YOUR BREAKS. They are YOURS and you DESERVE them! She was having a difficult time processing some of what goes on on the unit, and I told her a few things:
Before we are healthcare providers, we are human beings. We have feelings, thoughts and emotions, just like our patients. We have bad days too. We're not robots. We've all had our bad days on the job.
Sometimes you'll forget your face is on the outside.
If you ever need to take 5 or 10 minutes to do whatever you need to do to get through your day, then do it. Nobody's going to fault you. (I've had many take 5's where I've either cried or went to the bathroom to give myself a pep talk).
This job is mentally and emotionally draining...if you let it become that. Hence why I'm only 24 hours a week. Know your limits. You do not have to be the rockstar new grad nurse who is eager mcbeaver and picking up 100 hours of overtime. Be a team player but don't be a push over.
AND TAKE YOUR BREAKS.
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