Wednesday, 18 June 2014

A new identity

A few weeks ago I was offered my first nursing job - and last week, after much dithering, I accepted it.  At the end of this year I will become a registered nurse, and then I will be working on the ITU at my local hospital.  ITU stands for Intensive Therapy Unit and is what used to be known as Intensive Care - it is where the very sickest patients are cared for, and each patient gets one-to-one nursing care, 24 hours a day.  I have so many emotions whirling around my head about this new job:
  • pride - I've got a great job, in a specialism I desperately wanted to work in
  • fear - I'm going to be a qualified nurse, responsible for the care of very poorly patients
  • excitement - I'm going to be a qualified nurse, responsible for the care of very poorly patients
  • motivation - I need to revise all my knowledge of acute nursing care, and learn so much more
  • eagerness - I want to start now
  • sartorial disappointment - I will be wearing scrubs rather than a traditional nursing uniform
  • nervousness - can we put the brakes on, please? I've loved being back at University.

But mainly, with the knowledge that I have a good job waiting for me at the end of the year, I have relaxed and started to enjoy myself more.  I have always enjoyed nursing and been certain that this was what I wanted to do, but there has also been an underlying tension - could I really do this?  could I be good at this?  what effect was my change in career having on the family?  I was surprised to find that this tension disappeared when I finally sent the email to accept the job.

"Yes, I have a job in ITU," I tell people.  I'm getting used to saying it.  I have a new identity.  In my head I say to myself "I am an ITU nurse" - trying it out for size - and it feels right.

My upside-down watch tells me it's 4:55am. I am on my break, eating an apple, listening to the World Service, and knitting #nightshift #studentnurse

 
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19 comments:

  1. Garden Girl18 June 2014 at 21:43

    Congratulations nurse nancy, always knew you could do it! Those poorly patients are very lucky to have you looking after them.xx

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  2. Ali18 June 2014 at 22:10

    Huge congratulations xxx

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  3. Beth18 June 2014 at 22:36

    Congratulations Nancy, I'm so pleased for you and I'm sure you'll be a fantastic nurse, your patients and their families will be lucky to be looked after by you xx

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  4. just Gai18 June 2014 at 22:48

    Well done you. It's acknowledging all those emotions that will make you a good nurse. I've enjoyed sharing your journey thus far and I look forward to hearing how you get on in ITU.

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  5. Irene Donovan19 June 2014 at 05:38

    Great achievement!!

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  6. Jude19 June 2014 at 06:48

    Congratulations, so pleased for you.. It only seems five minutes since I remember you starting your training..

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  7. alice c19 June 2014 at 07:18

    Congratulations Nurse Nancy. I am so thrilled for you. It will be a challenging role but you bring such compassion and energy that the rewards will be huge too.

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  8. Fondant Fancy19 June 2014 at 07:28

    Congratulations Nancy, I took a job on NICU 17 years ago, I still love it every day. So many nurses get taken away from their hands on care with ward management and paper work, ICU keeps you very much in touch with your patient, I am sure you'll love it. You get used to the scrubs!!

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  9. Gina19 June 2014 at 08:32

    Congratulations Nurse Nancy! What a wonderful achievement.

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  10. The Creative Academic19 June 2014 at 10:02

    Congratulations Nancy. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and find it really rewarding. looking forwrad to hearing about it in the future.

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  11. Ali19 June 2014 at 15:20

    Congratulations Nancy - your training has flown by. Hard to get my head around how much extra knowledge you must have acquired in such a relatively short space of time - the human brain is a marvellous thing! As are you.

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  12. Clare19 June 2014 at 21:04

    Welcome to God's own specialty...! 19 years on and still loving it, and still learning something new every day. Scrubs are lovely to wear - they somehow suit everyone too (at least the pale green or blue ones). Especially if your hospital launders them for you too. Anyhow, well done, and good luck!

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  13. driftwood19 June 2014 at 21:20

    wonderful news Nancy xxx

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  14. CJ19 June 2014 at 21:30

    Congratulations Nancy, I am absolutely thrilled for you. I was just thinking about you today when I was asking after another trainee nurse. I'm so pleased you've got a job in an area that you wanted to work in. Your success is very well deserved after all of your hard work.

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  15. Flossy PatchedBritches20 June 2014 at 03:43

    Congratulations! How wonderful for you & a perfect pay off for all your hard work.

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  16. ozmcp20 June 2014 at 05:36

    I am so happy for you. Your sense of fulfilment shines out of your post. Congratulations on accepting your job - they are very lucky to have you. L x

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  17. Emm.A20 June 2014 at 07:54

    I stumbled over your blog a while ago and really like it. I'm a list writer myself! ;) Congratulations on your new job. I just got a job offer for a position I always wanted myself. So many similarities! ;)

    Greetings from Austria
    Emm.A

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  18. Ann23 June 2014 at 12:23

    So happy for you, Nancy! Congratulations on your job!

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  19. Lucille24 June 2014 at 09:47

    What a fantastic outcome for all your hard work. I really admire your dedication.

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Even though I often do not have the time to reply to everybody, I really appreciate all your comments so much - thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts on what I've written.

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