Share the Love

Let's face it, we all like knowing that we are liked and valued and yadda yadda.
As nurses (to be), this kind of validation is part of what we do every day.

In my last semester, I was told that this IV wasn't prepared correctly, or this equipment wasn't collected soon enough. It was difficult to be told repeatedly that that what was being done was not quite good enough (please don't feel sorry for me though, I do enough of that on my own). What made it worth it, though, were the patients. Despite the fact that these patients were all going through incredible, life changing heart surgery, they were grateful (except for this one guy. Mr. S, you were a learning experience to say the least). The patients on Unit91 made me believe in what I was doing.

Hospital experience aside, let's talk real life. As people, we're pretty great. As nurses, we are amazing. I can tell you right now that no one will listen to your problems, serve you soup, or rub your aching tummy like a nurse will. The good ones at least, will nurse their loved ones even when they're off duty.
We also do a fair bit of validating for each other. I can tell you that Rye, Livi, and M are validating machines! (Mental health? Survived, thanks to them). When we have a hard day at the hospital, no one understands like someone who's been there.

So. Give some love to your nurses. Give some love to your nursing students.
We like that ;)