The Challenges and Joys of Nursing

Four panelists weigh in on their profession, from their call to service to the major moments of their careers.

What has been the most impactful moment in your career as a nurse?

 I remember, a few years ago, my patient experienced a cardiac arrest in the middle of my shift, and she passed away. One of my coworkers suggested that we do “The Pause” after her death, so we all joined in a circle around the patient and took a moment to acknowledge her life. I had always tried to protect myself from the sadness that comes along with ICU nursing, but, in this moment, everything changed for me.

What is the biggest misconception of being a nurse?

That we just take vital signs and change bed sheets! The nurses I work with are some of the most intelligent people I know, and they are managing more than you can imagine. All at once, a nurse is titrating life-saving medications, monitoring the clinical status of the patient, updating the family and advocating for the patient with the medical team. Nurses sacrifice their personal comfort, time with their families, sleep and lunch breaks to save lives.

What is your advice for someone considering entering the field?

It takes time to get used to this career. To be a nurse you have to care deeply about your patients, and because we feel so accountable and responsible for their lives, we sometimes worry that we’ve missed something. You have to talk with other nurses about your feelings, about what you’re going through. Know that it’s normal to have feelings of doubt, frustration and genuine fear. Give it time — it will get better.

What made you decide to become a nurse?

Nursing provides me the opportunity to show love to people in their scariest, darkest moments and to care for patients no matter who they are. We are with them and their families through good times and bad. Nursing allows me to live my faith, and I honestly feel that I was given the ability to be a nurse so that I could show love to my patients in a very tangible way. I would never want to do anything else.

What is your favorite part of the day?

My favorite moments are extubations, which is when the patient no longer needs the ventilator (breathing machine) and has the breathing tube removed.  The patient has usually worked hard to get to that point, and it’s a very good sign that they’re getting better — and as an ICU nurse, our patients don’t always recover. I always tear up a little bit when we get to hear their voice for the first time.

What has been the most impactful moment in your career as a nurse?

The most impactful moment in my career was a life lost. A three-month girl passed suddenly. I remember holding the precious little girl, tears filling my eyes as I silently prayed for her family. The moments of that day are ingrained in my mind forever. It was a reminder that every day is precious, and it’s important to live life to its fullest. Nursing is more than an occupation: it’s an opportunity to pour love into our community.

What is the biggest misconception of being a nurse?

A big misconception is that nurses blindly follow physician orders. In reality, nurses work hand in hand with physicians and the rest of the health care team. Nurses utilize critical thinking and clinical judgement to improve patient care and overall health. Nurses are present with patients. We notice small changes in a patient’s condition and work with the health care team to produce better outcomes and save lives.

What is your advice for someone considering entering the field?

I would advise shadowing a nurse. Actually, shadowing a few. You will witness, firsthand, the roles, responsibilities and atmosphere of nursing. It is important to follow several nurses in different fields. One of the greatest things about being a nurse is the endless range of opportunities. You can work in a hospital, clinic, school or nursing home. Some jobs are five days a week, while others utilize three twelve hour shifts. There are also great opportunities for advancement, including management, teaching or advanced practice nursing (nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife). 

What made you decide to become a nurse?

When I was four years old, my parents opened their home to foster children. Over the next 20 years, I witnessed my parents pour love and care into nearly 30 children, many with medical needs. My mother, a licensed practical nurse, utilized her skills and her passion to help others and forever changed the lives of those 30 children. In reality, it changed my life as well. Those children, each in their own way, inspired me to become a nurse.

What is your favorite part of the day?

Follow a nurse for a day and you will quickly understand why they invest money in quality shoes. Nurses are always on their feet and constantly moving. That leads me to my favorite part of my day — sitting. Sitting, eye level with a patient, totally engaged. Patients in the emergency room are having a bad day, possibly the worst day of their lives. I enjoy being present, holding a hand, giving an encouraging word, or making them laugh! It really is the best part of my day.

What has been the most impactful moment in your career as a nurse?

I cared for a Hurricane Katrina evacuee during his final stages of terminal cancer. It took time to gain his trust and elicit his goals so I could support him in attaining quality time at the end of life. His story of survival, inner strength and continued humor throughout an immensely difficult situation was inspirational. Over my nursing career, I have heard countless stories. Assisting each patient to create and achieve his or her health goals created the nurse I am today.

What is the biggest misconception of being a nurse?

Many individuals think nurses only provide care under direction, rather than having the ability to independently create and implement care plans. Registered nurses have a broad range of knowledge and skills, and while implementing medical orders is part of the care they provide, much of care patients receive — including educational and preventative interventions — is nurse directed. Additionally, registered nurses with nurse practitioner certification (requiring a masters or doctoral degree) have the ability to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication. This is why I continued my education and became a DNP graduate: to provide holistic care for my patients.

What is your advice for someone considering entering the field?

Becoming a nurse is not just a career choice; it is a life choice. You will need to stay informed of current research, provide direct care to patients and be involved in policy change to create a better health care system. This takes time, while being a spouse, parent and caring for yourself as an individual. Never forget to focus on self-care and personal growth as you yourself have to be well to assist others in attaining health.

What made you decide to become a nurse?

Early experiences working as a hospital volunteer showed me the satisfaction that comes from helping others and prompted me to look at nursing as a career. After becoming an RN, a desire to expand my skill set and to design and implement practice changes to create system wide improvement in patient outcomes prompted me to continue with nursing as a career path and pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. 

What is your favorite part of the day?

I enjoy beginning and ending each day with reflection on my practice. I try to start each day reading a research or practice article relevant to the geriatric population I work with and considering how I can incorporate these findings into my daily practice. At the conclusion of the day, I reflect on how successfully I was able to incorporate any practice change and consider new ways to improve patient outcomes based on my personal experiences. 

What trends do you see emerging in clinical simulation?

Simulation has become common practice for many nursing programs — if they don’t use simulation now, they will in some form soon. Clinical sites are difficult to find, and personnel costs can be substantial. Currently, simulation looks very similar across most programs: manikins, simulators, cabinets, med-carts, academic electronic health records (EHR) and other technology are certainly helpful, but can be costly for a program to purchase and maintain. As clinical simulation matures, more products will be developed to meet the needs of programs in a more cost-effective way.

What has been the most impactful moment in your career as a nurse?

Nursing has provided me with quite a career journey. I have fulfilled every one of my dreams, from obstetrics nurse to nurse educator. After 15 years of nursing education and eight years of EHR training, I brought all my years of nursing experience full circle when I developed my academic EHR business. Being able to pass my knowledge on to new instructors has impacted me in a way I could never have imagined.

What is the biggest misconception of being a nurse?

Many people believe that nursing is limited to the old stereotype of “vital signs, baths and bedpans.” Nursing is such a diverse career, and the opportunities are limitless. Working at different clinical facilities, with various patients, in administration, or as an instructor — being a nurse is much more than the stereotype suggests. 

What is your advice for someone considering entering the field?

Go for it! Although the nursing education requirements can seem rugged, the rewards are amazing. Even if floor nursing is not for you, the opportunities offered in health care for anyone with a nursing degree are diverse and plentiful. Focus on developing your critical thinking skills, and you’ll find success in any path you choose.

What made you decide to become a nurse?

For the same reason many of us entered a career in nursing — I wanted to help people. I wanted to be that obstetrics nurse that could make a difference in a woman’s life during labor, no matter what the outcome. I wanted to be that nursing instructor who opens the student’s eyes to the wonders of caring for others and the fulfillment that comes with it. I feel fortunate that I made that decision.

What is your favorite part of the day?

I am quite a way into my career, and I no longer work with patients. I founded an academic EHR business that allows me to work with nursing instructors in classroom, lab, clinical and simulation lab settings. I love working with faculty to enhance student’s critical thinking skills and help prepare them for real world interactions with patients and technology.