What is the most rewarding thing about being a nurse?

tnrunningnurse

My personalize license plate says it all "nurse change lives"

NicolettetheGreek

Some days....retiring!:bigsmile:

LJV1031

HA HA HA... both good ones.

For me, it is when you get that patient who is genuinely appreciative, because you did something to make him/her feel better, have a better outlook on their condition, or even just smile. (Shhhhhhh, don't tell anyone at my job, but I'm a BIT of a softee :blushing: )

newfienurse66

When a challenging patient comes back to the clinic and asks specifically for me, I know then I have made a difference in their lives and they in mine!

Dare2Believe

Although it can be emotionally hard working with Hospice patients I find being able to be there at a very difficult time in a patient's life one of the most rewarding experiences ever. I do crisis care which usually occurs when my patients are actively dying, I get to be there to support the families emotionally as well as hold a person's hand when they take their last breath.

LJV1031

Although it can be emotionally hard working with Hospice patients I find being able to be there at a very difficult time in a patient's life one of the most rewarding experiences ever. I do crisis care which usually occurs when my patients are actively dying, I get to be there to support the families emotionally as well as hold a person's hand when they take their last breath.

Wow, that's intense. Kuddos to you! :flowerforyou:

princess269

I work in an LTAC. Definitely helping my aware pts to have a smile and positive outlook!

Dare2Believe

Thanks LJV1031, I really do love it. Although some days I tell myself I just can't watch another family grieving but I think I would really miss it if I tried to do anything else.

trolkeeper

Some days....retiring!:bigsmile:

this!!!!

mccarol1956

Lately I feel the most rewarding thing is going home when it is over. Nursing has become all about paperwork and very little about actual patient care. It is the pits. I love my patients, just hate the tons of paperwork they keep adding on, especially all the duplication of things!

Dare2Believe

Lately I feel the most rewarding thing is going home when it is over. Nursing has become all about paperwork and very little about actual patient care. It is the pits. I love my patients, just hate the tons of paperwork they keep adding on, especially all the duplication of things!

This is so true. and sad as well. I spend more time doing paperwork than actual patient care!

mdj1501

Some days....retiring!:bigsmile:

this!!!!

Ditto! :smokin:

SalishSea

1. Making patients feel safe by my level of competency.
2. Being right when the doctor is wrong.
3. The paycheck.

debbieHOC

I am a hospice nurse for the largest non-profit in Tennessee. I work on the crisis care team so if I show up at your house things are not good. I really enjoy helping the pt and the family get their symptoms under control and educating them on the dying process. I walk families through this on a daily basis. We are all gonna die. ... It can be a good death or a bad one. I see that 99% of the time it all comes together and a patient can die comfortably and they and their family can find closure. It's an honor to walk them through this journey.

mccarol1956

Lately I feel the most rewarding thing is going home when it is over. Nursing has become all about paperwork and very little about actual patient care. It is the pits. I love my patients, just hate the tons of paperwork they keep adding on, especially all the duplication of things!

This is so true. and sad as well. I spend more time doing paperwork than actual patient care!

Yes, me too and I feel like I am cheating my patients. They need and deserve more. Unfortunately many hospitals are no longer in the business of actually getting the patient better they are in the business of getting high scores for butt kissing. This distresses me so much. We have so much mandatory paperwork that is not part of the permanent chart which to me feels a bit deceptive. Our staffing has been cut to the bones. It is starting to feel unsafe more times than not.