December 5, 2009

Feeling Rewarded..at my paying job

I am very fortunate to have 2 jobs I love! I love being a mother and wife but I also love being a nurse. I have had so many little moments that have confirmed I have made the correct career choice. I love the connections I am able to make on a daily basis with the families I am caring for. Unlike other types of nursing, on Pediatrics we care for the entire family. I am sure that some of it is my outlook I can really appreciate my job right now. Not being 30 months pregnant or caring or a newborn all night may have something to do with it.

Last night I was caring for a sweet little 3 year old boy. Every time I would walk into the room I would say "there is my friend". He wanted to spend some time with me and his parents needed a break from the room before the walls closed in on them. As he was sitting on my lap reading books, holding my hand when there were scary parts on scooby doo or petting my hair telling me I had pretty hair those little moments make me grateful for my job. Later that night he wouldn't go to bed until "his friend" tucked him in.

There have been lots of these little moments lately. I have been filling up the bank with them. I want to get a good stockpile that I can make a withdrawal from when I need it the most. Those shifts that I am completely drained. When I am pretty sure I could stab myself in the eye with a pencil if one more person presses the call light, the monitors alarm one more time, the phone rings so someone can be let into the unit or one more demanding parent asks me to get them a Pepsi.

My sweet little patient I had last night, his grateful family and all of the families and patients like them make it all worth it!!