In nursing school, health assessments were fun. With our pen lights, we looked curiously into each other’s eyes. We observed equal reactive pupils. Our stethoscopes were shiny and new, with the infamous L on the bell. We held it to each other’s chest listening to air pass through the lungs, imaging each body tissue turning from blue to red as it received oxygen. Then moving it ever so slightly across the chest, listening to the strong heartbeats of my classmates, it sounded like a drum. Our fingers palpated pulses that coincided with each beat.
This is life
I thought to myself. Nursing school was indeed fun, forming study groups joking around in the library, and laughing about what our professor said in class. Each lecture taught me new material, learning was fun, and the thought of being able to help people is fun.
Working as a nurse is another element. I will proceed with caution but defend my point of view when I say nursing is not fun—thinking back to how naive I was with no actual hospital experience and without knowing what caring for the sick entails. I am a little embarrassed by my initial thoughts but enlightened, knowing that growth is a process.
A new point of view
In the hospital, Health assessments are concerning. We look into the patient’s eyes with discernment. We hope to see equal reactive pupils with our pen light. The stroke and seizure protocols rehearse in my mind. Our stethoscopes coated in bacteria move suspiciously across a patient’s chest, listening for abnormal beats and coarse sounds. We palpate threading pulses, indicating a worrisome heartbeat and blood flow.
This is what it’s like to treat the sick
While nursing care is rewarding. Nursing care is profound to anyone, including me, who describes nursing as Fun. I would ask, have you any idea what nurses endure in a 12-hour shift? Do you understand what it’s like caring for the sick at the bedside? Patients in acute care and critical care have more than a cough and sore throat. Have you any idea what it is like to treat advanced diseases?
The ability to laugh among colleagues about what the patient in room 29, bed two, said is fun. The side conversations and nurse banter are fun. However, to describe Nursing care, Fun is not the word I would use.
In my first semester of nursing school, I thought my health assessment teacher tried to scare us out of the profession. In hindsight, she made one of the most applicable statements in school (I’m going to paraphrase).
Look around at your classmates. Look at your healthy skin and healthy bodies; You will not see anything like this in the hospital.
Prof. Hahn
Nursing care is rewarding and profound. Leave more adjectives in the comment section!
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~M says
Yes, I can relate. I did my clinical studies in a hospital setting and that was enough for me to forgo my idea of becoming a nurse. Those few months we’re heartbreakingly sad. The good thing is, I now know how to care for someone in a critical care situation. I figure that knowledge might come in handy one day if I ever need to help any of my family members.
Tayッ says
I like your perspective, you will always have the ability to use what have you learned in the field. It’s important to know our limits because nursing can be sad. I had to learn how to handle my emotions to continue working, it has been an eye opening journey to say the least!
Thank you M💛
~M says
And last night my education helped in an emergency situation. 😃 Thank you for all you do… ❤️