On November 23rd I had been officially working for 6 months. On December 2nd I will have had my license for 6 months. Wow. Who knew 6 months would go so fast? It makes me think this 3 year contract...and my life for that matter...will fly by. I remember writing not too long ago about my chaotic first day and about my terrifying first experience on my on.
One of the first few days by myself I checked a blood sugar and the monitor read "low". For those that aren't familiar that means the sugar is so low it doesn't give you a number. A low sugar is worse than a high one. My patient was slightly confused already, but it seemed she was symptomatic. I remember panicking. I ran and called another nurse to stay with her while I grabbed juice, crackers, and called the doctor. I wound up getting an order to push D50 and right before I started the other nurse said, "Did you check it again?" Oh. My. Goodness. Here I am giving this lady D50 and I didn't even check it twice! Praise God the reading was accurate and her sugar barely came to normal after the intervention. Now when I get a sugar that reads "high" or "low" I laugh every time at my calm approach to intervention and mostly at my incredible improvement in nursing judgement from my first time. It's amazing what your brain can accomplish when not clouded by fear.
I tell that story to give you a glimpse of the progress I have made. I have gone from the girl who questioned every decision I made to being the girl who has confidence to handle a floor of 7 patients by myself with one aide. Do I still have questions? OF COURSE! I always will. I am by no means a pro, but I am learning and that is comforting. I still have bad days where I am at the hospital hours after I should be, but they are now the minority. I have been blessed with the most amazing coworkers who are completely unselfish with their time and talents and make my job worthwhile. I have been graced by some of the sweetest patients one could imagine.
I am a nurse. This statement has had a ton of meanings over the last few years. I am so very excited to see what definition it has in the coming years.
