Lately, work has been crazy. There always seems to be a fire to put out. I try to provide education and support to the families, who are in their most emotionally taxing times. Am I doing a good job of it?
This always leads me down the rabbit hole of questioning what a good nurse is? What makes someone a good nurse vs a not so good nurse?
Is being a good nurse taught in schools? Do you learn it on the job? Not quite sure, but, I do have a few ideas….
A good nurse is able to set boundaries.
A good nurse is able to stick to those boundaries because caring for your own needs is equally as important as any patient’s needs.
A good nurse gets frustrated.
A good nurse cries.
A good nurse gets mad
A good nurse is able to say “I don’t know”
A good nurse mispronounces medications.
A good nurse is late on charting
A good nurse might look haggard at the end of a long shift.
A good nurse stands up for coworkers.
A good nurse seeks education
A good nurse might take a mental health day.
A good nurse thinks about quitting
A good nurse has a person or two that get the “Please don’t think I am stupid….” questions
A good nurse might swear (like a lot)
A good nurse advocates for patients
A good nurse might be seen as someone who isn’t silent
A good nurse might just be quiet
A good nurse knows that just because “it’s always happened this way in nursing,” doesn’t mean it is the right way.
A good nurse might make corny jokes
A good nurse isn’t afraid to do anything other people might be asked to do
A good nurse never shies away from patient care
A good nurse may be frustrated and exhausted.
A good nurse could be mentally and emotionally burned out but shows up for her patients.
A good nurse listens
A good nurse educates
A good nurse might just be learning how to set boundaries
A good nurse will drive the whole way home thinking about a patient and not even realize when they have arrived
A good nurse loses pens
A good nurse has a stomach of steel
A good nurse couldn’t possibly be doing this job for the money, because, well, it wouldn’t be worth it
A good nurse might have pee on their scrubs but still continues to work
A good nurse might have only had a cup of coffee all day
A good nurse might just be relying on Google for a thing or two
A good nurse might not remember your name but, remembers your situation.
A good nurse is frustrated with all of the healthcare inequalities
A good nurse cares and feels
A good nurse makes mistakes
A good nurse misses IV sticks
A good nurse sometimes walks away from the bedside
A good nurse moves from one patient to the next, hiding any sliver of what might have happened earlier
A good nurse smiles through tears
A good nurse needs a moment to recoup.
Each nurse may be different.
But, if you are looking for a good nurse, try the mirror.
A good nurse is staring back at you.
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