Patients are funny.

I believe that people think nursing is this all serious, all medical, all the time hard job to do. But you know sometimes, it is ridiculously fun. You get your laughs in while you can, because yeah sometimes we do have those “all serious, all medical, all the time hard” days where once your head hits your pillow all you can do is cry. But most of the time, the little quirks with people are what make your day. I had a patient a few weeks ago that when I walked into the room he was holding his wife’s hand and singing to her in Spanish (not well… but singing). And all he could say was “oohh how sad for you… you missed most of the show”. It was by far the cutest thing I have ever witnessed in my life. And another day I was walking by and my instructor said “look in there on that bed” and there was a lady’s wig sitting on the bed. And I had a patient who when I told him I had a very quiet weekend and that in fact yes I did stay out of trouble, he said “well I am terribly disappointed in you”. And don’t say you wouldn’t get a little chuckle from this tough tough guy with tattoos up and down his arm, just struggling to walk down the hallway and he has a side of his gown open… you really get your laughs while you can because it does get serious sometimes. But for the most part laughing with my patients is what makes my day. And for the most part, that’s all that people want... a little light in their day and be treated like an actual human in the bed, not just another case study.

Big Nerd!

I am possibly the biggest nursing nerd you’ll meet. I get excited over the weirdest things and I think gross things are cool. But for all you fellow nursing students and nurses out there you all know this is a requirement for the position. I have had bodily fluids spilled over me, I have seen wounds the size of my fist, I have changed a colostomy appliance, I have seen pitting edema that would make you wonder where all that fluid comes from, and there are things I've done that I'm sure would make people wonder if I am actually sane and normal (ex. I took a catheter tray home to practice my sterile technique, but I had to leave it in my car cause I had to work and I gave a girl a ride home at the end of the day and the kit was on the passenger seat). But that’s okay. I am a nursing student, to-be-nurse in 2 years and I love what I am doing and I love the weird, gross things that make other people cringe and want to vomit. I get excited over new things like giving injections and learning about new things and the smallest detail intrigues me. I am that much of a nerd I have starting writing as if I am charting when I leave notes for people. Like when I was at work last week I wrote a note to a colleague when a customer wanted to leave them a message. What did I write you ask? “A customer came in today. He stated that he would like to leave a message about the wedding this weekend.” I have used “denies”, “states that” and “complains of” in normal conversation more than I am proud of. I enjoy morbid or gross humor and it has a serious effect on my social skills. No one understands my jokes other than fellow nursing students to whom I gravitate like a magnet. No matter what room or social situation you put us nurses and students in guaranteed we will find each other and talk about bodily fluids and the bad smells we encounter over a nice big plate of food. I am a proud nursing student. Please be patient with me during this time of insanity