A Nurse's 50 Year Journey

Neuron Cells

During my 50-years in nursing, my mental and physical endurance did not wane, as I had to make quick health decisions on behalf of patients while on my feet and communicate those decisions effectively with others, thanks to the unique structure and function of neuron cells.

Summarizing 50 years as a Nurse:
I cared for babies 1-hour old to seniors 104 years of age and several still had the ability to share their life stories.

Nursing is a wonderful journey like no other and you must experience it, because imagination alone will not give you that adrenaline rush to move into action: whether to call an ambulance in an emergency; call a code blue (cardiac arrest); run with a wound cart when a patient slips and falls on the floor bleeding; giving end-of-life-care or sharing pain with a family at a patient's funeral.

Do:

• Be influential yet fair by helping with hands-on care on busy days
• Organize your responsibilities in writing as soon as you arrive at work
• Become tech savvy, it is essential for the reports you must write on care given
• Allow curiosity and integrity to go together when you observe health change in a patient
• Resolve staff-to-staff or staff-to-patient issues/conflicts by giving constructive feedback
• Set your self apart, become a great leader by using every opportunity as a helper and learner
• Delegate & ensure your team feel respected by listening and acting on what they have shared

Don't:

• Blame others for mistakes
• Be afraid to make a mistake
• Keep organizational changes from your team
• Take credit for the success a team member achieves
• Be afraid to speak up on behalf of the needs of patients
• Keep a number limit in your head about giving patient care on duty -they are all patients

Be inspired, become a nurse!