15 Lessons Learned during my Nursing Career

1. Just when I think I’ve seen or heard it all, something else comes along.
2. To be really successful, you must learn to be the master of multi-tasking.
3. Don’t ever pass up the opportunity to use the bathroom—you might not get another one for a very long time.
4. Losing my sense of smell at age 15 has served me very well in many situations during my career.
5. Family, friends, neighbors will call you at all hours asking you for expert medical advice on any and all ailments, and you will be expected to know the answer—immediately.
   
6. I have a great appreciation for nurses that work the night shift.
7. I’m a terrible patient.
8. I love Dansko shoes.
9. Learning to accept that you can’t always be all things to everyone at all times.
10. When people find out you are a nurse, they tell you everything—and I mean EVERYTHING.
11. Always carry a blue or black pen.
12. Don’t write your family notes that contain medical abbreviations—they will have no idea what you are talking about.
13. Patients trust and need you.  Do everything you can to respect and maintain that trust.
14. Listen to your intuition.
15. You should expect and look forward to learning something new everyday.

Are you a nurse? What are some of the lessons, tips or tricks that YOU have learned during your career? Leave them in the comments section below!

Not a nurse?  But know one?  Head over to our HAPPY NATIONAL NURSES WEEK page and send them a quick shoutout!