Somebody’s got to do it…

{ February 22, 2010 @ 2:25 pm } · { Uncategorized }

Today I went for orientation with a new patient.  I like working pediatric home health for a lot of reasons… the pay is usually good, the kids usually have some sort of disability but are stable for the most part, and there is only one patient to deal with, which is the best part.  And, probably most relevant… you work, for the most part, ALONE…  One of the worst things about nursing, and I think many nurses would agree with this, is other nurses.  I can explain… in nursing there are no mistakes allowed… but obviously, being human, we make them.  Usually the mistakes are with paperwork or transcription or something rarely insignificant (when I say insignificant I mean not threatening to the patient’s LIFE) but it could still get you fired, or get your license referred to the state or a number of other things.  So a big part of nursing is trying to point out the mistakes of others to deflect from your own.  This is one of the things I hate, and one of the reasons I hate myself, at times, when I am nursing, although I have never partaken of this regularly, as I make a conscious effort to avoid it.  But thats the way it is, baby!  So the nurse I trained with today was the type to NOT involve herself in the drama for which I was thankful.  She was quite pleasant and a lot of fun, and I could tell she truly love the child she is caring for.  She was telling me today that the child can be a “stinker” and can swear and call names… I told her I was accustomed to that behavior in adults, so I could live with it, which is absolutely true.  Adults know better, children do not always know what is appropriate.  She agreed but she said something that made me think.  She said,  ”Just  because it’s better than another job, or because we have been through it before, or because we CAN deal with it, that doesn’t mean that we should.  That doesn’t make it right.  THAT’S why I hate nursing… I HATE IT!”  I had never thought about that… My last job was awful… backtalk from the patients, the administration, the staff, constantly being in fear for your job… I had a knot in my stomach thinking about it even when I wasn’t working.  This job is going to be far more enjoyable, even if the child is stubborn and uncontrollable, and even if she swears and calls me names.  But that doesn’t make it right.

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