Nursing: not only a profession, but a life-style

I do not believe that almost all people enter their nursing profession wanting to be a hero or looking for recognition in an altruistic yet demanding job. It’s definitely not glamorous work by any means. However, I consider that almost all nurses are called to a profession. It takes great compassion, dedication, resilience and a real desire to assist others. This isn’t a path for the faint of heart. Honestly, as I wrote before, I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to be a nurse, to present so selflessly on daily basis. However, after graduating and starting work, every little thing fell into place and I actually enjoyed the day by day challenges and the impact I had on patients.
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Over the years, it became clear that nursing was not only my job, but in addition a life-style. I could not separate myself from it. Unlike a typical desk position, we do not finish work at 5:30 p.m. and leave work behind. We is not going to allow ourselves to depart quickly until our tasks are accomplished simply because someone’s life depends upon it. We are nurses 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Like moms and dads who look after their children unconditionally, nurses look after strangers as in the event that they too were relations. We do it gracefully and without hesitation. I noticed that I often became emotionally attached to patients, especially those with longer hospitalizations. I wondered if this was the mark of nurse or an indication of weakness. I decide to consider that it’s a noble trait, but empathy can definitely come at a value.
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One of the numerous advantages of being a nurse is the talents we develop in patient care, which extend beyond the bedside and into our personal lives. We are extremely organized, meticulous, multi-tasking and we set very high standards for ourselves. We consistently use our knowledge outside of labor. If there may be an accident on the side of the road, we’re the primary to stop and help. If someone is choking in a restaurant or a stranger complains of chest pain, we take motion. And when a worldwide pandemic turns our lives the other way up, we volunteer our free time to select up extra shifts, working at local clinics or providing much-needed vaccination assistance. Family and friends see nurses as a trusted source of data and switch to us for advice after they feel unwell, when a baby is injured, have general medical questions or need a referral to a physician. My work has been and still gives great satisfaction, fills my soul and helps define who I’m as an individual.
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However, we cannot ignore the numerous flaws in nursing. These may include sleep loss as a result of evening and night shifts, stress and burnout, physical fatigue and a general lack of work-life balance. “Research has shown that at least 3% of nurses lead a healthy lifestyle, which can lead to physical and mental problems” (Perkins, 2021). As nurses, understanding the practices we ascribe to requires a thoughtful approach to our personal decisions. It is very important that we prioritize our own mental, physical and spiritual needs. Take a moment to go to the Self-Care Tips for Nurses from Nurses blog to find out how you possibly can improve your nursing lifestyle!

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Perkins, A. (2021). Nurse health: exercises. Â 19(3), 18-21 http://www.doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000741828.14543.beAND

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