Dialogue with a Nurse - Essay Example

DIALOGUE WITH A NURSE Nurse-Mary Smith, Pediatrics, South Memorial Hospital of Tampa, Tampa, Florida Q. Did you always wanted to become a nurse? Whatdrew you to nursing?A. When I was a kid, I wanted to become a dancer but when I was in high school I realized I wanted to help people esp. kids (I love kids) and that’s when I decided to become a nurse.Q. How long have you been a nurse? Did you always wanted to be in pediatrics?A. I graduated from the University of Florida in the year 2003, so I have been a nurse for almost 9 years now.

Right after my graduation I got the job as a nurse here in South Memorial in the Pediatrics Department which was good for me because I love kids and wanted to work with them and that’ll be the answer to your second question as well.Q. Apart from what you learned in nursing school, what other subjects you think a nurse should be proficient in/aware of?A. I believe a nurse should have knowledge of subjects like Maths & Chemistry apart from the curriculum they are taught in the nursing school.

Other than that I feel someone like me who is a nurse in the pediatric department need to have knowledge of behavioral studies as well. Dealing with kids require extreme patience and composure. Also, I feel for someone like me who’s working in Florida, knowledge of the Spanish language can be very useful because of the major Spanish speaking populace out here.Q. Were your expectations met as you started working as a nurse or was it a rude awakening?A. Obviously, when you start working you realize that things are far from ideal or like you said expectations are not met.

It took some getting used to but I conformed to the working environs quickly and now I am pretty comfortable working here in South Memorial. The doctors and other co-workers are nice and I have a nice rapport with them. Again, I’d say working with kids has been the biggest perk for me.Q. What has been the worst experience of yours working as a nurse?A. The worst experience was that of the death of an infant from influenza whom I was treating. It was a beautiful baby boy who was just a month old.

I had grown quite fond of him while nursing him and his death was a big setback to me . I remember it was the first time I cried a lot at work in the changing room.Q. What are the deterrents in the job of a nurse?A. Sometimes, I feel the job of a nurse is very thankless. Especially, for me who happens to be a nurse in the pediatrics department. The attitude of the parents is far from grateful at times, in fact quite rude sometimes. It is understandable as they are all very emotionally attached to their children and can’t bear to see them in pain but then they have to understand that as nurses we are just doing our job.

I also get wrung out from working long hours sometimes. The job of a nurse can be physically very demanding at times; sometimes I have to go without food and even water for long stretches in my service time.Q. What are your plans for the future? Where do you see your nursing career going, say 10 years, down the line?A. I am that kind of a person who doesn’t have long-term goals. Yeah, my friends keep reproaching me for my shortsightedness and callous attitude towards my future and career but I just can’t think of what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be more than 2 years down the line; 3 tops.

Meanwhile, I am absolutely in love with my job here in South Memorial and I don’t think much about anything else. I have garnered a lot of experience in these 9 years that I’ve been working as a nurse. I am absolutely content with my career and I see myself becoming the Head Matron in a few years if I continue to work like this.Q. What advice would you like to give to the people who are planning to take up nursing as a career?A. Do not choose nursing if you cannot put others before yourself.

Nursing requires a lot of qualities in a person. You have to be patient, mannered, smart, composed, diligent and most of all a good listener and a conversationist. Nursing is not just taking care of people but nurturing them back to health. It requires a very strong will and good intentions to be a nurse. You also need to be a stronger person at work hours; stronger in the sense that you have to learn to overcome your disgust of open wounds and also to console the kith and kin of the patients.

You should be ready to work long hours without any breaks. It also takes a heavy toll on your personal life and therefore, if you’re thinking of nursing as a career do think about it very well before getting into it.