The sun is barely waking and the birds are stirring in their nests…
BEEP BEEP BEEP.
My peaceful slumber is disturbed by the irritating and non-melodious chime that is near to my left ear.
BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEP
I awake disorientated to time, place and person. My breathing, although voluntary, increases in rate, depth and rhythm- mild tachypnoea. It takes the time of a healthy capillary refill to realign my senses, get myself together….ABCDE…my primary survey.
I am a nurse. I am on morning shift. I have 1/24 hrs to get myself together, rehydrate, tolerate an early morning breakfast and transfer myself from this supine position in my bed to another’s bedside for clinical handover.
How did I get here? What am I doing?
I never wanted to be a nurse. If you had asked me as a 12 year old what my career ambitions were, I would have rattled off every other profession except nursing; veterinary surgeon, neuro surgeon, professional singer/songwriter, Department of Public Prosecutions barrister, Prime Minister, food & wine taster, international spy, mechanic, podiatrist… nursing was never on my list. Eight years on and here I am. I am in my final year of studying nursing and am working as an assistant nurse.
I have often struggled with how to answer intrigued friends when they ask , ‘do you enjoy nursing?’. Internally I experience visual flashbacks of the awkward clinical placements with unhospitable staff, the hours of cleaning pans, the abuse from clients with dementia and the frequent disruption of my circadian rhythms. I initially reply with an honest and blunted ‘No’, but then I am challenged as to what drew me to nursing and why I have remained in this profession. It can’t be all pans can it?
As I filter through the nursing memoirs of my short yet eventful career, I can recall many moments that have made me feel proud to be a nurse. I spent a month in Bangladesh earlier this year completing a two week placement in a public health hospital in Dhaka. I initially entered this placement with the grand plan to seek my exit from nursing and pursue the world of public health research. Spending time in the Intensive Care Unit, the HIV aids ward and in maternity, I was challenged. The perfect world of public health research seemed mundane compared to the practical work of the nurses in disease management. I was inspired…I returned to Australia with a renewed motivation to complete my nursing degree. Nurses provide hope to the poor.
My short yet insightful experience is not the only thing that spurs me on to be a nurse. I can visually picture the faces of many nurses I have spoken to who have provided their time in order to give me insight into the beauty of nursing. To these nurses I sincerely thank – your sacrifice and dedication has impacted many lives. Thankyou for giving me hope and encouragement.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
I am orientated to time, place and person.
I am a nurse. I am on morning shift.
I am going to work to make a difference to a life today.
Nomadic Nurse 