Ramblings of Night Nurse: Reward

Helping a patient after many months in the hospital has been a trialing and rewarding experience. I have three nights off and I hope when I go back on Saturday this patient isn't there anymore. Hopefully they will have finally gone home.

I almost gave up; I almost stopped. I probably should have-but I just kept going. Another learning experience. But to know this patient is walking out of the hospital soon is the greatest feeling. To have gone from holding their hand and thinking that this may be "it"; you know, that moment...to only a week later and we might be sending them home...it reaffirms that reason for me going to work. It took many, many days but I finally accomplished my goal of helping this patient get well and go home. :o)

The night before last was rough. Four isolation patients and two were admissions. Don't ask how that happened-it's a long story and not all that important. But it was frustrating. And overwhelming. And I walked out of a room and said "Oh my god! I hate this place!"

I don't really. I was burnt out. Burnt out on taking care of my patient (see above) and from always having four patients regardless of the team and always getting the admits and on and on. Even if it isn't quite always, it just felt that way. That night and that moment was the final straw.

It's been emotionally draining the past few weeks and I just needed to have that moment. Have an outlet for my frustrations. See, I actually really like my job and I like my patient's quite a bit too. Most of the time. ;o) What I needed even more was to get that news that my patient was going to get to go home. Such a rewarding moment that I promptly shared with everyone I saw. Almost everyone on the unit has cared for this patient and knows the story; I know that a few of the other nurses were pleased as well.

I can't help but wonder what would have happened last night if I hadn't gotten that news...

Decision:

The decision was to stay on 6SAC. I figure I'll stay and get more experience and in the next 3-6 months apply where ever I want: one of the ICU's, CICU, or ER. I'm happy on 6SAC. I just got there and I'm not ready to leave. Being in school and trying to orient to a new unit, an ICU at that, might not be the best idea. And so I'll wait...and make another decision in 3-6 months.

Wish me luck!