Working as a nurse isn’t easy. In fact, the long and exhausting hours of work can make it easy for us to miss the little but valuable things in life. This, however, doesn’t mean that there’s nothing good about the profession that we can be thankful for, it’s actually the opposite! We may not get bonuses as big as other jobs, but we have these things to be grateful for:
1. You know more than a dozen ways to save a life. From CPR to drug antidotes, all nurses are skilled enough to help keep their patients living.
2. There’s always room for improvement. If you feel stagnant, you can always go back to school to learn more.
3. Patients trust you with their stories. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sad, happy or embarrassing tale. The idea that your patients trust you is already a big deal.
4. Nothing compares to the feeling you get once you remove your shoes after a toxic shift.
5. You’ll never have a boring day at work.
6. There are a lot of machines that make our work easier. With IV pumps, for example, there’s no need to count and recount the number of drops anymore.
7. You get to poke people with needles. The more fun part is that you get to decide what needle size to use!
8. You always get to work your muscles out during your shift. Lifting patients and running around the floor can really give your body a good exercise.
9. The silence you experience once you close the car door after your shift can feel like heaven. With the constant ringing and buzzing, a moment of silence is a rare gem to find at work.
10. Doctors listen to you. They can also argue with you.
11. You know how short life is. Seeing patients from womb to tomb helps us be more appreciative of life.
12. Nursing is one of the most secured jobs. With tons of subspecialties, there’s always room for you.
13. We don’t have to wear high heels and tight skirts to work. Instead, we get to move around wearing comfortable scrubs, which is the nearest you can get to pajamas.
14. You get to make a difference in people’s lives.
15. Blood doesn’t make you feel faint.
16. You have family and friends who don’t get mad at you for missing important dates because of work.
17. Patients respect you. Although there are a few difficult ones, most of them still listen to what you have to say.
18. If someone in the family gets sick, you can skillfully deal with it.
19. We are thankful for our health. We’ve seen how hard it is to be bedridden and unable to speak. We’ve seen patients in pain and relatives in grieving.
20. Disposable plastic syringes and bed pans make our work easier and less messy.
21. You’re a member of a complex medical team made of several disciplines.
22. There are gloves, disinfectants, and protective gears to prevent us from getting ill while taking care of the sick.
23. You can get paid higher as you learn more specialties.
24. We get to meet a lot of people, from different colors and race and make a difference in their lives!
25. Seeing your patient recover. Perhaps there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the person you’ve cared for and attended to for days get well.
What other things are you thankful for as a nurse? Do you have any other things to add to this list?