What this nurse believes

Lately, a lot of opinion has been passionately shared across the internet waves. I’ve come to learn that I think I live in a ‘bubble’. The concept of my perceptions and experiences as a nurse have apparently been on the opposite end of the pole from the general consensus (at least out here in the internets lately).

I’m not sure if it’s maybe my ignorance, or my blind passion. What I do know is that I like my ‘bubble’ (sometimes I refer to it as my ‘island’), and I plan on staying there.

Here is what I, as a nurse, believe:

• Men and women live in two different worlds, but male and female nurses do not.
• Taking care of someone has nothing to do with gender.
• One’s perception is one’s reality. What you see is what you get (whether right or wrong, it’s what you asked for).
• There is a lot more negativity in the world than positivity. I don’t plan on making it any worse.
• Education is more than just a degree.
• Professionalism sets you a part.
• You are either part of the problem, or part of the solution. You can’t be both.
• Sooner or later you have to grow up, some take longer than others.
• Passive aggressiveness is not productive, nor is it honest.
• You never stop learning, you never stop growing, and you forget more than you’ll ever learn.
• If you don’t use it, you will lose it.
• Once you lose it, it takes twice as long to get it back.
• Respect isn’t something you can take, it’s only something you can give.
• Your volume of body language will deafen any spoken word.
• In the end, the whole is more important than it’s parts (a winning team is more important than being ‘right’)
• You will have to take it, before you can give it.
• Never, ever, ever forget what it was like where you came from (and where you started).
• It has never been about you. Ever.

All of these are open to interpretation. I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve sometimes, so these may be a little off the deep end (sorry). I just have such a strong passion for this profession, and it saddens me to see the imbalance of good and bad going in and out of our profession. My hope is that maybe, just maybe, I’m not that alone on my ‘island’.