you have what it takes

its noted that it does take a special person to do what we do in the medical/nursing field. patients and their family members on many occasions tell me that they could never do what i do. it really is something special for myself to be able to take a person fighting the battle of their life, and turn them around; sometimes watching them get discharged and walk out of the ED.



its a little embarrassing to say that the reason i became a nurse was to make loads of money and work only 3 days a week at that. i would hang out with a friend and his dad would always be home to hang with us and take us places. i had come to find out that he was a nurse. he in fact did have a lot of nice things, a beautiful house, nice cars, and time to enjoy them.

that was it i knew what i was going to do. yea, there's the stigma of a nurse being a woman, but that didn't stop me. in fact, since being in the field i've seen that male nurses are highly regarded. my wife, also a nurse, makes it a point to state that because i have a penis, i have it easier. in short, i do believe she's right.

you women can be very petty. what is it about a woman proving herself against other women? now not all women, but when i came to the hospital i currently am at, i saw so much hostility amongst the females and the (attempt for political correct-ness) homosexual males. now not all were like this, but damn sure were there a good handful. and to be perfectly honest this did create a reputation for the facility i am now in. i have my reasons for pursuing it irregardless of this, i wanted to get my butt whooped and test my limits.

i do believe that this sole factor makes it super hard on anyone trying to make it in this field. you have new nurses, students, and old nurses new to the facility that find them having to prove themselves to a few snooty nurses that have far less experience than themselves. you also have residents that are themselves learning as we do everyday.

the other day a coworker whom i actually like, nicknamed a resident '[Jane] the Retard' and proceeded to laugh about it. of course none of us thought it was funny, and i voiced that opinion. well, its that attitude that creates such a hard learning environment. yes they are doctors, md's and do's...but they are still learning. they graduate, pass and get credentialed, then come to learn and play.

who are you, oh almighty nurse with er, icu, research, etc experience of so many years to call another a retard? were you so bright and perfect in intellect and hands on skill upon your first years of nursing? fresh from your boards were you able to assist clipping a dieulafoy's lesion on an active bleeder? did you differentiate the need for indepth liver function testing and ammonia studies for an unresponsive hypoglycemia pt with unknown incidental renal/liver pathology within you first months in the field?

i am honored and ashamed to work among these attitudes at the same time. yes, a number of the attitudes are seasoned and very appropriate with their skill. but so many times do i see the inappropriate side in regards to professionalism.

now also realize that i am not the silver dollar among the nickles. i am no super professional. i love the friendly environment that overcomes the hostility in my workplace. i have great rapport with most all, even the attitudes. and again, beccause of my penis it is easier for me than the likes of my wife. but we laugh, we joke, we are hilariously innapropriate at times, but when it gets down to it and the time demands it, we are a kick a** team, in a suck a** world.