The healthcare field of work has always been in my mind for as long as I can remember. Being a nursing student definitely has its ups and downs. All nighters for exams that you sometimes fail, the mental breakdowns after finding out you failed an exam you studied so hard for, it all drains every little ounce of motivation you have inside you. But that all changes as soon as you interact with your first patient. You see first hand the impact you are having on this individual. It is a truly amazing feeling. So, here's an open letter to all of the people who make all of this hard work worth it.
First of all, thank you.
Thank you for trusting me and putting your life in my hands. There's no greater trust than between a nurse and their patients and I will honor that trust, forever. On my first few days starting out at my job at the hospital, I was an absolute nervous wreck, and you really worked with me. That being said, thank you for not giving up on me in the beginning. I know how hard it must be to trust a nursing student, but I really do thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me.
I will advocate for you, always.
With every ounce of my being, I will fight for what is right for you. While a patient is in the hospital, most of the time they are at their weakest point. I promise to help you fight through it all. This is the most important thing I have learned so far in nursing school. You can do everything right: vitals, lung sounds, heart sounds, etc. but the minute you stop caring and fighting for what is best for your patient, you are losing sight of what nursing truly is.
No matter what, you are the most important to me.
On the days I am in a horrible mood and I am deathly tired, you will still be my number one concern. I promise to make you laugh on days that seem like the worst of your life. I promise to cry with you when you need someone to lean on in times of need. Nursing is about loving and helping your patient throughout every single thing that happens in that hospital. To me, you will never just be my "patient." While under my care, you will be the most important thing to me, no matter what.
