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Things I Didn't Appreciate until I Became a Nurse

By Jessica Dzubak posted 09-14-2016 11:51 AM

  

Things I Didn't Appreciate until I Became a Nurse

Good scents.

Candles, bubble baths, freshly cleaned laundry! My nose has smelled fluids from every orifice, pungent body odor, necrotic limbs... you name it, I've smelled it. I never fully appreciated the pleasure of coming home to a home smelling like flowers and a freshly baked pie.

Comfortable shoes.

Whether you're a Dansko nurse or a sneaker-lover, there's that one pair of shoes you cannot work without. I used to love my flip flops and stilettos on my days off, and now I honor my feet with the comfiest of comfy. Feet need a break too!

Warm, home cooked meals.

After endless nights of stale coffee and cafeteria meals, my stomach aches for freshly made meals, or as I call it, "real food". 

Teamwork.

Once you've worked with a good team, you realize you couldn't work without it. No one understands what you're going through quite like your co-workers, or how important it is to have an extra set of hands in a tough situation.

Comfort over fashion.

In order to provide the best, safest care for my patients, I've stretched my body in positions I didn't think possible. I need to wear some comfortable scrubs! I need them to move, bend, and stretch with me - all with super durability. Stylish scrubs are great and all, but a dirty hospital room is no place to look cute.

A strong poker face.

I've never been one to hide my facial expressions, but the ability to hold a stone face has been one of the most valuable assets on the job. Sometimes you need to stifle a laugh when that's all you want to do, or perhaps you need to hide your disbelief at what you're seeing (or smelling!). 

Health insurance.

It may seem like an obvious one, but until you see the lengths that people have to go to for simple medical care, it does not really hit home. Unfortunately lack of insurance is a major reason some with chronic illnesses cannot get their diseases under control, and suffer from severe long term consequences (which then leave them with more medical bills).  

Soap.

Now, we've all always appreciated soap. But when it's the only thing that removes stains of who-knows-what from your scrubs - and your skin - you learn to appreciate it that much more. Especially the scented kind. 

Life.

Now, this is the important one ladies and gentlemen. There have been nights I've left work at 3 am wanting to call all of my loved ones and tell them how much I appreciate them. Whether I am seeing someone my age, or more heartbreaking - younger than me -, in an unfortunate circumstance, or helping families whose loved ones are fading away either too fast or suffering too long, this job makes me appreciate my own life more than I ever have before. I now appreciate the little things, and don't take the big things like health, insurance, or the ability to breathe on my own, for granted.  

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