on being a nurse.

i had just signed off my six-week evaluation. all i could say is that i am happy with the results. i can't believe it, (more than) six weeks had passed since i started.

so far, it had been somewhat stressful. with waking up in really early in the morning and trying to be there for all patients. everyday has brought me new knowledge, learning new "tricks" on how to get a job done more efficiently. it is true what they say, the only time you learn nursing is when you are on job. on some parts, i feel like i haven't learned anything from nursing school, on the other, it's all just a review with some differences.

i am not gonna lie, but i am enjoying my job. although it's a lot of work and stress, my stress level and stamina had changed since my previous job. i don't go home depress, i don't really have to drag myself out of the bed and through the day. the patients may be old and, for most of them, incontinent. it brightens up my day when i enter a patient's room and here them say "oh! am i glad to see you!" or "please tell me you're my nurse today?". it's also a trip when we have spanish-only speaking patients. as i try to communicate with the little spanish words that i learn, i get smiles from them. i feel that they appreciate the effort that i put into trying to communicate with them. a patient once taught me how to say some words. horacio once passed by my floor, his comment - "you're patients are cute! i thought you just make them sound cute with your stories!" yes, i share stories with them, but still keeping in mind patient's privacy (no names, nothing really specific). also, i enjoy the people that i work with. we joke around, we help each other out. i am so gonna miss the people on the day shift once i start evenings. i can actually feel the teamwork.

everyday has been a learning experience for me. may our floor be over-staffed or under. it has been a wonderful experience so far. all this, of course, was made possible by the Lord. i hope and pray it countinues as days, weeks, months, years go by.