Roles of a Nurse

I was thinking about this today, so I decided to blog about it. :)
I feel like throughout a 12 hour shift, my role as a person's nurse can be different every 10 minutes. Here are a few examples.

Friend
If I have a patient multiple nights in a row, I feel like I can develop a friendship with them. I love that. I ask them about their day, if their kids visited that day, we tell stories, and laugh. I had a patient last night telling me all about his new truck and snowmobile. He was comfortable with me and wanted to talk to me as a friend.

Answering service
Not as much on nights, but there have been a few times when a patient's family will talk to or call the nurse constantly. There was one night where I talked to 6 different family members before 9pm. They would all call for updates instead of talking to each other. After rolling my eyes, I actually found it kind of funny.

Counselor
I had a patient who had lost his wife of 42 years last month. I walked into the room to find him crying and upset. My role at that point was to take the time to hold his hand and listen to his thoughts. My priority was no longer giving him the medications I had brought in, but to let him know that he was important and that I was listening to him. Also, praying with my patients. Helping them find spiritual comfort in tough times.

A Vicious Bee
I hate giving shots. I like getting IVs, but I hate it when I miss. So many needles!

Teacher
Unfortunately, night shift doesn't include as much teaching as day shift due to the fact that the patients should be sleeping for most of my shift. However, when I get the chance, I love the opportunity that I get to educate people. I love finding ways of explaining things in ways that everyone can understand. I had a patient who was in the hospital for the first time, so I got to explain his upcoming procedure to him. For someone who is nervous, knowledge is power.

Mother
This one isn't quite as common, but I had a patient recently who called me into the room and complained of a stomach ache. I palpated (a fancy word for touching) her stomach and asked her if it hurt when I touched it. She exclaimed, 'Oh no! You made it feel all better!' As I walked out of the room, I felt like I had those special mom superpowers where she make something feel better with a simple touch. It was a sweet moment.

Drug Lord
So. Many. Pills.

Advocate
Part of my job is to go to war for my patients. I look at the big picture and try my best to find out what is best for the patient. I spend 12+ hours with them while the doctors only get a few minutes each day. I know the patient and it is my responsibility to fight for what's best for them.

Slave
Out of all of my roles, there are some nights where I feel like I went to college for 4 tough years to be a slave. I wipe butts. I clean up vomit. I fetch countless cups of ice water. I move the bedside table 6 inches closer. I hand them the phone. I bring graham crackers at 2am. I rub lotion on smelly feet. I help people put pillows under their head. Sometimes, this can be frustrating because I feel like I am doing things for people because they are choosing not to do it for themselves. That's the worst. If they are helpless and can't do it for themselves, I don't mind. If they are capable of doing things, but choose not to, I get frustrated.

Superhero
Not always. Not every night. Not every patient. But sometimes, I feel like a superhero.