5 Things they don’t tell you about being a nurse.
Being a nurse is one of the most challenging and yet rewarding jobs there is. It’s a rollercoaster ride from the moment a nurse enters the ward to the time the shoes are kicked off at the end of the shift. Whilst everyone seems to know the basics of what a nurse does, what do you really need to know before you set foot on a ward?
- Nurses must be critical – although querying a nurse’s or doctor’s diagnosis may be a daunting prospect, they must speak up if they think an error is being made. People make mistakes all the time and a nurse must have the courage and integrity to be open and honest.
- Being educated in maths and science is compulsory – nurses’ jobs are so varied that one minute they will go from washing a patient to calculating medication dosages, followed by operating complex monitoring machinery. They need lots of skills!
- Being tired is normal – nursing is both physically and emotionally demanding and it can take its toll. Nurses work long hours and are often on their feet so they need comfy shoes to help.
- Staying sane – Patients divulge all sorts of information to nurses, and nurses see everything that is going on. In order to remain sane, they must have a good sense of humour and will inevitably gossip about everything they have just heard with their colleagues.
- Pride – people are so proud of nurses for their chosen profession and they often have endless support and appreciation from family and friends.
Nurses hold many secrets about the profession but the best way to find out is to get involved.