What is Nursing for You?

Before, the meaning of nursing for me is literally, "taking care of the sick". Well actually it's true. Nurse needs to take care of the sick until they get well. But do you think that's the only meaning behind the word "care"?

According to Virginia Henderson, "Nursing is to assist the client (sick or well) in the performance of activities contributing to health, it's recovery or peaceful death that clients will perform unaided." In short, whether it is sick or well, we need to assist them towards independence. We oath to God that it's our responsibility to take care of the people who need our help. Whether it is physical, mental, spiritual and social needs.

There are lot of definitions of nursing. And now that I am already a registered nurse and took care a lots of patients in the hospitals and in the community, I made my own definition of nursing. The word nursing for me is a service that even a person without license can take care of the sick but with the limitation (only the basic form or caring) and with full knowledge and is competent in rendering care to the patient, either sick or well. This is just my own point of view. I don't contradict the other meaning of nursing. Because I believe that everyone has the right to care for the sick but only for those who have knowledge and experience in nursing care, plus the passion to serve the people. If you only have the knowledge and you don't have the passion, well probably, it will be difficult for you to give your patient's need.

So, love your profession. Remember the saying, "many are called, but few are chosen". We are all free to choose the nursing course, but few will be a registered nurses. So, let us hear your thoughts about the word "nursing". Our colleagues and future nurses are longing to hear your stories.

Love and Passion to Care for the Patient

Honestly, the nursing profession was not my first choice. I don't ever imagine myself working in the hospital and taking care the sick. And because the nursing was in demand profession before, I just go with the flow, and took it as my profession. But when I reached my third year in Nursing, my college life became adventurous at the same time pressured in duties and in school lectures. And I don't have any idea that my passion to care for the patients will start on that year.

I was third year then when I had my first duty in the hospital. I was so nervous on that day, because I'm not yet familiar with the surroundings and the policies in the hospital. I noticed that I'm not the only one who was nervous that time. My group mates were also feel the same. Then, I was assigned to take care a pregnant women who was ready to labor. Of course, I must showed to my patient that I am competent with what I am doing. And to establish trust to my patient, every time I go to her room to take her vital signs, I make it a point that she's fine and make herself relax, knowing that anytime, she is going to deliver her first baby boy. And after an hour, she was sent to the delivery room and for the first time, I saw a woman delivering a baby. That was so amazing! How the mother is trying to push the baby out of his womb and even though she's already tired, she didn't give up. And finally the baby went out and I saw the mother's tears fell down on her sweaty face.

After that, I was still assigned to take care of her. I took her vital signs. I saw her dizzy and exhausted. But before I leave, she said: "thank you nurse, for taking care of me and my baby. I appreciate you kindness and care." Wow! I was really flattered that time and I have nothing to say but "your welcome ." I know it is just a simple "thank you" but, the moment she said that word, I feel very proud of myself. Although it's just a simple task (taking vital signs), that really means a lot to her. And while I was making my documentation, I realized the value of nurse's responsibility. I feel the passion to serve the sick. I learned to love my patients even though they were not my relatives. Her simple "thank you" means a big appreciation of what I've had done to her. She's not just treated me as a student nurse, but as her real staff nurse.

That became an eye-opener to me. I realized that the patient needs nurses and the nurses need the patient. And so, every time I have my school duty, I'm always hoping that my patient will be discharge soon. Not because I don't want to take care of them the whole shift, but I don't want to see them lying on the bed, and suffering from pain. I always put myself in their situation, and I can feel what they feel.

I hope all the nurses and the future nurses in the world would realize how lucky we are to serve others. It's a privilege to be a nurse. And giving others a hope to live is one of our responsibility. Let us give our patient the best care that we can, praying that by the end of the shift, our patient will happily discharge from the hospital and send back home.