It’s been about a year and a half of being a nurse and while I’ve worked in a hospital for a few years this is my take away from my new job.

You eventually start to find your nurse trope

All baby nurses are relatively the same at the beginning. Innocent and scared. (there is a version that thinks they know everything but they are on a different path that doesn’t end well). However you slightly see which RN archetype you’re going to become. Am I the people pleaser? The hot mess? The grump? Perky? Policy Nazi? Fun but essentially useless one? Everyone’s mom? The scary but smart one? Plus many others

*I’d like to think I’m somewhere between The Grump and The People Pleaser oddly enough.

The difficulty of not taking on 2 jobs.

Many nurses were techs or CNAs before their license. It’s very hard to turn off the tech mindset and not try to brush everyone’s teeth and get them ready for the day along with all of your new responsibilities. I will say of course I still do that stuff especially if I’m doing good on time and I know my tech is slammed. Just finding the balance of prioritizing and trying to not feel like a dick for asking my tech to toilet someone while I run off to go to a conference or try to catch the nephrologist before they can never be found again.

The Call Chain

You gotta call so many people. Every specialist wants you to talk to every other specialist or pharmacy to lab or whomever to whomever. Like you are the for real middle man just coordinating between parties.

First IV

I mean it is just so cool the first time, cause everyone hypes it up and you’ll miss so many but that first successful flash of blood might as well be made of nectar from the gods.

Paycheck

I went from a part time nurse tech to a full time RN and that was a leap on my paycheck. I’m not saying nurses are overpaid but I will say techs and CNAs are grossly underpaid.

So much of your life is spent talking and dealing with everyone’s bowel and bladder

So many texts to docs and APPs being like “it’s been like a fortnight since this dude has pooped. SOS” or “they won’t stop, it’s like a sign of the apocalypse. Call a priest or order me Imodium”

Speak confidently

I feel like a patient can smell fresh meat so you really just have to fake it and speak with authority then go back to the desk to other experienced nurses and being like “hey real quick is this okay or will it kill that guy?”

Everyone wants you to love it

They all ask “you’re a nurse now? Are you loving it?” To most of the general population there is no other response except “of course!”. However to the people in your life you don’t have to just have do niceties with, you can explain the complexity. There are high highs and low lows. Some days I’m riddled with anxiety and dread. Some days I feel like I’ve made a difference or at least helped someone. It’s taxing either way but sometimes you have to placate people with a simple “of course!”

Mental anguish vs physical anguish

Being a nurse tech was so draining physically and while it could be very emotionally draining, I feel like the scales tipped being a nurse. I don’t feel as physically drained (still some though don’t get me wrong) but now I’m much more mentally drained now. Everyone wants to talk to you or has a question for the nurse or gives you a problem to handle.

Apex of problems

The nurse is the first line. The nursing desk in the center of the universe when it comes to problems. Random family members, other staff, volunteers will come lay out someting that is wrong and leave it in your hands. It doesn’t matter if the television is being weird or your food order is wonky or the HVAC system isn’t making it hot enough in the room, you as the nurse are going to be the person dealing with it. Their literally should be a course in nursing school called “hospital maintenance and hospitality” cause it’s like 30% of the job.

Feel like a single mother

Sometimes you just have all these call lights going off at once, and it’s people all needing a Diet Coke or warm blanket or just barfed all over themselves at the same time and you’re doing a full Reba impression trying to get all your little babies to calm down. I truly feel for the nurses who are actually single mothers cause I don’t even keep a plant alive at home.

Rely on other systems

So much of my joy and demise is based on how well other systems functions. “Has lab come up to draw?” “I’ll bring it in as soon as pharmacy sends it up” or “Oh I’m sorry they forgot your raisin bread, I’ll just let nutrition know”.

First doctor call

I’m a 33 year old man and I was nervously twirling my hair the first time I had to call IM.

Report is a nightmare

Like 1 out of 6 times it’s fine but mostly it’s like a weird passive aggressive stand off and both parties seem mad. It’s like each person is fearful the other one is going to call them out over something trivial. Everyone’s style is different, for the oncoming shift I feel like their is a layer of anxiety about the unknown and for the off coming shift their is a layer of exasperation from the 12 hours. Both parties aren’t usually feeling it.

Telling strangers is better

I’m sure it will get old but it is fine to say “I’m a nurse” when people ask what I do. For so long it was “I’m a student, will be a nurse soon” it’s just nice to have a simple answer.

Mistakes and good ideas

I mean you’re bound to make mistakes, everyone tells you that over and over again. It almost makes you more nervous due to the fact it’s now a sword over your head. I remember on like my second day on my own after orientation I accidentally sprayed Flonase in a guy’s eye by accident. However the first time you notice something with a patient or come up with a viable solution on your own and provider goes “That’s a great idea, let’s try that.” is a very specific kind of win.