Of all of the career paths to embark upon, becoming a registered nursing stands as one of the most challenging. Becoming a nurse involves a rigorous program with long clinical hours, heavy workloads, and anxiety-inducing tests. A strong sense of discipline and character are required to join one of the most time-honored professions in the world.
Since I started college three years ago, I’ve learned a lot of cool stuff about the human body. I also know a lot more about coffee than I probably should. But some of biggest lessons I’ve learned can’t be taught in a classroom. Here’s a list of some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from nursing school.
1. There Is No Substitute for Hard Work.
Gone are the days you can study the day before the test and expect to make an A.
For nursing school, basic memorization won’t cut it. You have to know the information backward and forwards. This takes hours of intensive studying, and applying concepts to what you see in the hospital on living, breathing human beings. Needless to say, the stakes are pretty high. That human being is someone's loved one, after all.
There is no way around it: in order to succeed, you have to work your butt off.
2. GPA Is Only One Factor in Determining What Kind of Person You Are.
Employers, graduate schools, and scholarships often weigh GPA above all other factors. As a result, students stress a great deal about having the perfect 5.3 GPA.
But here’s the thing: I’ve met a fair amount of nurses with average or below average GPAs that were awesome nurses. Conversely, I’ve met some nurses with outstanding GPAs and felt sorry for anybody that was under their care.
GPA does not determine how great of a nurse/engineer/businessman/whatever you are. It determines how well you take tests. The real indicator lies in how well you perform your job.
3. All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy
A balanced lifestyle makes all the difference. Yes, you’re a student whose primary focus is to graduate. But finding a way to relieve stress and take your mind off school every now and then remains essential. Some good examples of stress catharsis are fitness, reading, crafting, or even writing (but who writes for fun, anyway?).
I’ve seen the students who are obsessed with that perfect 6.2 GPA and will stop at nothing to get it. As a result, hobbies, family members, relationships, and even personal health go to the wayside. They get sick multiple times a year and are often very cranky because they’ve been studying for 13 hours whilst running on four hours of sleep.
On one hand, I admire their work ethic. But on the other hand, I like being able to live life a little bit. And putting the textbook down for a couple of hours makes all the difference.
4. Be Grateful for the Education That You've Received.
I’ve spent my whole life studying to become a nurse and a well-educated member of society. And I am truly blessed to live in a country that makes education opportunities so readily available (albeit a tad expensive).
But not everyone has that chance.
One of the biggest challenges in healthcare involves taking complex diseases, procedures, and medications that take years of education to understand and trying to explain them to someone who possesses little to no knowledge of the human body (or might not even speak English, for that matter). Knowing this not only changed the way I study, but makes me eternally grateful for the educational opportunities I’ve received over my life.
5. Most People Are Not Stupid. Don’t Treat Them Like They Are.
In spite of what I just wrote, most people are not idiots. Patients know why we wash our hands before and after procedures. They know what blood pressure is and when it’s high/low. They know that a flatline on an EKG isn't good.
Just because you’ve been through a lot of education to understand the science behind medicine doesn’t mean your patient won’t understand it. Believe it or not, I’ve seen patient call out nurses for not doing really basic things like washing their hands. So don’t be a supercilious jerk.
A great nurse once told me: “People may not understand all of the intricacies of healthcare. But everyone, regardless of background, understands and deserves two things: a happy face and a clean room. So keep the room clean and be nice.”
6. People Are Not in Your Life to Inconvenience You.
I’ve seen this more times than I can count. Nurses will complain about a needy patient, an annoying family member, or a patient that requires frequent surveillance. As if the patient is there simply to annoy them, not as if they're sick or anything. As a result, nurses can become very bitter towards all of their patients, including the respectful and kind ones. I’ve met some nurses that have lost all love for people by resenting all patient interaction. The most ironic part is they can’t figure out why they hate their job so much.
Most patients and family members are very generous and considerate to the nurses. Don’t let a few bad apples ruin the orchard for you.
7. There is No Such Thing as Saying the Right Thing.
Medical personnel (including nurses) get in this “pill for every ill” mentality and think that the right dose of words will cure everything, just as we have pills to remedy physiologic diseases. The patient will listen, stop crying, be happy again, and while they’re at it, they’ll get right with Jesus and stop smoking.
No combination of words can cure the kind of heartache caused by the death of a loved one or a terminal diagnosis. They have to explore these feelings on their own, to which only time can grant the cure they seek.
If someone is upset, just sit there and be there with them. If they’re crying, hold their hand. Help them explore what they're feeling. Most people just want to know they’re not alone.
8. Everyone Has a Story. Let Them Tell It.
People want to tell their story. Our stories fulfill the need to feel important, unique, and valuable. Let people feel like they're important. Besides, people are freaking awesome. Just listen and you might learn something.
Be sure to hug a nurse or a nursing student. Or give us coffee. We like that, too.
