Question : Hi Miss Debbie, I think I have really screwed up. I am half way through nursing school and have had a blast. I really love his stuff. But now that I am doing my clinicals, with real people. I think I may not be cut out to be a nurse. I cry all the time. My heart breaks to see the elderly in pain. I know it will be worse when I get to the little kids. I have invested so much time and money now. I don’t know what to do. I haven’t broke down in front of them yet, but I go to the bathroom and just ball. I don’t know how people do it. This is so sad. I really want to be a nurse more than anything but afraid I won’t be any good to them. Was it this way for you? Am I just not cut out to do this and if not this, what should I do now?? Thanks for everything BM/SC
Answer: Babydoll, You are exactly what it takes to be a nurse and a good one.! In answer to your question YES I cried. Most do. Those who don’t, usually want to. If not, they should. Just imagine t you are caring for your Grandmother,Sister, Mom or Dad. Would you want someone to care for them who didn’t care enough to cry sometimes?
I’ve been on both sides of that stethoscope. I can assure you that given a choice, I would rather have you dropping tears in my wounds, than some who would drop nothing or feel nothing. Try not to cry while doing a dressing though ! LOL. Things will get better and you will cry less. I hope that you will never let yourself feel less or have less empathy.
Go and have a good cry when you need to. Don’t take the tears home with you. Know that when you leave there , someones life has been made a little easier just because you care. You will see many sad and disgusting things. However, the fulfillment you will have at a “thank you” or knowing that you made a difference, will warm you to the core. You are made of all the right stuff to be a nurse ! Wash your face, put on a smile and get back out there! I only hope that when I, or my family really needs a nurse, that it’s your beautiful teary eyed face that walks in the door.
GO GET YOUR DREAMS LITTLE ONE! You’ve only screwed up if you quit! Mama Capps
pharmacy technician says
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.
at 2:06 am on December 11, 2009.