I’m healthy; I'm fortunate enough to have never had any major health problems. However, I’m still a huge hypochondriac. If I find a scratch or bruise and I can’t remember the injury that succumb me to such, then I instantly start panicking and rush to WebMD. A few minutes later, I’ve convinced myself that I have stage three brain cancer with only a few months to live. This flaw is one which many people face everyday. Regarding our health, it's easy to jump to the worst possible scenario.
Nurses deal with hypochondriacs every day. It takes a special kind of human being to take on nursing as a career. You have to be kind, sympathetic, you have to know how to respond to other people’s emotions and perhaps most importantly– you have to know what you’re talking about.
It’s the nurses’ personalities that make us feel comfortable. Whether we’ve made an appointment for a routine wellness check or something more serious, the nurse is the first person we see in the doctor’s office. He/she has the ability to make our experience great or extremely negative. If we're already worried about a health problem, the last person we want to encounter is Negative Nurse Nancy.
Nursing is one of the most in demand jobs in the world today. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job outlook is expected to increase 16 percent by the year 2024.
We often fail to recognize the people who comfort us; in this instance, the nurses who tell us everything will be alright. Nurses do not choose their career path because of money– the BLS estimates the median registered nurse salary to be about $66,640 which is less than your average corner store pharmacist. Nurses choose their careers because they have a passion for healing; for many nurses, the goal is to provide a healthier and happier world.
In honor of National Nurses Week (May 9 to May 15), take time to celebrate the professionals that keep us healthy. The next time you visit you doctor’s office, make sure you give the nurse a smile, a hug and a thank you.
