IT IS YOU!
Without You, there is no care. When you go to work, YOU are there for your patients.
You probably became a nurse to help people and that is the right answer, but remember that if you were to leave your job, someone will take your place tomorrow.
Go to work to take care of people and make them feel better because helping people makes you feel better about yourself also.
Go to work because it’s your job and you need a paycheck.
Go to work because you love your job.
Go to work because it gives you value.
Go to work because you are proud to be a nurse.
Reasons NOT to go to work…
Don’t go to work because your manager asks you to – they don’t care about you, they need to fill a hole.
Don’t go to work because you feel guilty (unless you really want to).
Don’t go to work if you are sick and risk getting your patients or co-workers sick too.
…and Please take care of yourself. Get a massage or a spa treatment to treat yourself if that is what you like. Take care of your health. You only have one life. It would be terrible to spend your life helping others only to be left old and worn out. Nurses’ jobs are not easy. If you work in certain fields, you may be required to lift, push, or pull patients and we all know that people come in all sizes, some very large. If you hurt your back, it could turn into a chronic injury. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid situations where someone can hurt you. No one expects to get injured at their job, but it happens more often than you think. It could be faulty equipment, you trying to muscle more than you can handle, or an aggressive patient/family member. And your workplace may not have empathy; You may be found at fault. That does not mean that you should not report an injury - Report all injuries ASAP because you never know when it might turn into something worse.
As a Nurse, it is natural to feel like it is your responsibility to take care of everyone.
But, remember that if you were to leave your job, someone else will take your place tomorrow.
Be a great nurse. At some time in your life, you will probably be an overworked nurse. There are times when that overtime is irresistible. There are times when the extra shifts are necessary to pay for things you want or to pay down debt or to build your nest egg. We are fortunate to have a job that has that flexibility.
But know when to slow down and know when to call it quits. If you are so overworked that you can only do the bare minimum for your patients, you are not helping. If you are falling asleep at work, you are too tired. If you are aging and not able to keep up physically, don’t become a patient yourself.
If the type of nursing isn’t for you and you are not happy with your job, try something else. What kind of care are you giving if you hate what you do?
If you are not functioning well, you could be putting your nursing license at risk. You worked hard to get to this point, don’t blow it.
In Summary, YOU are the #1 most important person. If you can’t take care of yourself, how could you take care of someone else? If you get hurt, who will take care of your needs?
Remember, work to live, not live to work. A balanced life is a happy life. Be a happy nurse!
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