25 Things I learned in my First Year as a Nurse

1. You will be understaffed. All the time.

2. Can the other nurse have the admission please???

3. When your patient/ patient’s family genuinely thanks you for the care you have provided, it is one of the best feelings in the world

4. The break room is your diet’s worst enemy. Chocolate donuts anyone?

5. Men will constantly ask you to nurse them. And you will constantly fight the urge to punch them

6. Finding the hole on the first try warrants a celebratory dance.

7. Sometimes you learn more from your patients, then they will ever learn from you

8. Your hands will never look pretty. And you can’t decide if Purell is your friend or foe.

9. Disoriented elderly women give the best relationship advice

10. A little bit of Ativan never hurt anyone

11. There will be an hour when nobody needs you, and then three hours when everyone needs you

12. You never know when your shift will end….EVER.

13. Sometimes you will pray more for your patients than you do for your own family

14. If you have your scrubs and an ID badge on, feel free to go a little faster on the freeway.

15. Men’s anatomy does not age well

16. The human body can emit a plethora of odors you never knew possible, from crevices you never knew existed

17. Yes, I get paid more than you think, but not nearly enough for what I do

18. Diabetic patients love snickers. LOVE them.

19. Trying to explain your work schedule to your friends and potential suitors is next to impossible, and date night is officially Tuesday.

20. Your bladder has an incredible capacity

21. There will always be that coworker (or 2, or 3) that thinks they know everything. Thankfully the capacity to tune out background noise gets better with time

22. You will make mistakes. It’s how you handle them that will distinguish you.

23. Nursing can restore your faith in love, and remind you to wait for the one that will see you through thick &thin. Because life isn’t always chocolate and roses, it can be dirty diapers as well.

24. You will dream about bed alarms and IV pumps

25. Your nursing school professors were absolutely right. Nursing is an art and Science, and more than anything, it is an honor. There will be ups and downs, good days and bad, but the opportunity to see someone through sickness to health is a privilege and a gift. The ability to facilitate the healing process, help someone through a vulnerable time, and really touch someone’s life makes every day in nursing worth it. Nursing has been a challenging, rewarding, demanding, and adventurous journey thus far and I am looking forward to a long career! Nurses Rock !

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