You know you're a nurse when...

  So far in the past few weeks of my orientation as a nurse, I have found some common occurences pop up in my day that are interesting, unpredictable, or funny rather. Instead of "You know you're a redneck when..."  I will just call it my list of

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A NURSE WHEN....

  ~ Your patient calls you because they would like you to take a look at their poop, because it "just doesn't look right" (Today it was nasty snot ball I would have rather not laid my eyes OR hands on, but nursing duty calls!) 

~  You get excited and give a standing ovation when your patient poops - period.  Not to mention, you know the smells, looks, consistency of different diarrhea to identify it.
    
~ Along with nursing duties, comes tech support on any and every little piece of equipment, including fax machines, IV pumps, computers, and even label printers. I could go on!

 ~ You've been running around like crazy all day from room to room and realize that you haven't stopped to pee, even though your bladder feels like its going to burst!  

~  You finally sit down for lunch at 2:00, and inevitably your pager goes off because the patient in room 8 needs you and the IV pump in room 22 is beeping.

~  By the time you get home from work you have just enough time to eat dinner, shower, pack your lunch for the next day, and go to bed... just to do it all again the next day!

~ You have your phone set to military time and when your friend asks you what time it is, they look at you in confusion when you say "It's 1430"

~ When talking, atleast 2 or 3 of the words in your sentences are acronyms.

~ After changing a dressing on a nasty wound, you can go to lunch and talk about it without gagging or grossing anyone out. Gag reflex = nonexistent.

~ When your feet are screaming in pain!

~ Your mom texts you and says "I haven't talked to you for 5 days. Let me know you're alive when you have time!"

~ Your pockets are so full of random supplies, it takes 5 minutes just to dig around and  find what you need.

~ When walking to your car after work, you ravishly eat the leftover contents from your unfinished lunch.

~ You find yourself checking out random people's veins when waiting in line at the grocery store.


If anyone has any "You know you're a nurse when" additions, I would love to hear them!
   

New Beginnings

     Four years ago, my dream of being a nurse was just beginning. After starting college and getting accepted into the nursing program, I knew my life would never be the same. Long hours of studying and work finally paid off after four fast, hard years of nursing school. I never thought I would see the day to graduating with a Bacherlor's of Science in Nursing Degree, but I did it! My dream job was to work in a nursery with newborns, either in the ICU or in a well-baby nursery.

     Just when I thought my goals were complete, my goals then shifted to finding a job - which was much harder than anticipated. I was told by many people I would have no problem finding a job as a nurse once I graduated. Little did I know, I would become so frustrated because hospitals were not hiring like they used to. People did not understand when I told them I was having trouble in the job search. They just didn't get that although there is a nursing shortage, hospitals do not have the money to hire millions of nurses! Even more frustration! I applied, applied, ate, slept, applied, applied, ate, slept, and applied some more! I even applied for jobs I didn't really want, but knew I might have to do in order to get my foot in the door.

     FINALLY, I got a call for a Medical-Oncology nursing position at a great hospital. Medical-Oncology you might ask..That was not in the plans....not in the plans at all. I am supposed to be welcoming babies into the world, not seeing people on their way out! When the recruiter said what floor it was on, my jaw just dropped and said "I'm sorry could you repeat that?" Out of all these jobs I applied for, I get a call from a cancer floor where my Granny was hospitalized last year?! How weird and unexpectable at the same time. I wondered if it was a sign...I wondered if this was my chance - at healing my grief, at a job, at helping others through something I have been through...I wondered if I should just give it a shot.

     So, I interviewed, got the offer, and gladly accepted the position. I started in June, took the NCLEX (nursing boards) a month later - and passed I might add, and now I am officially a Registered Nurse (RN)! I longed for this day when I would no longer have to wear tech scrubs; I can wear nursing color with pride. I dreamed of the day when I would be able to sign my name with RN behind it. I earned this day to feel proud I am now an RN! I am excited to finally begin my career. I am excited to help patients with their grueling battles of cancer. And althought it was not in the plans, I am excited to begin my journey as an Oncology Nurse.

Thanks to my friends and family for supporting me throughout nursing school. I wouldn't be where I am today without you guys!

I will be blogging about my adventures as a new grad oncology nurse so keep your eye out for new posts! I'm new to the whole blogging thing, so if anyone has any tips, let me know!