Nineteen years into the nursing profession, and fifteen years of being a trained nurse! I have passed out these years with multitudinous questions of why I became a nurse. Initially I would get lost in explanation and translation of why I chose nursing, because it wasn’t a dream I harbored and strove to be. Some encouraged, some passed with murky comments. The step of my journey into nursing didn’t have the most exciting start. I didn’t have the slightest idea of what studying nursing would be like. I found myself marshaled in the midst of complete strangers. I had to learn to take care of people with different ailments, with varied personalities, doing things for them and taking care of their needs, which I had possibly never done for my loved ones at home. Amidst all difficulties and harrowing times, I learned to find joy and contentment in nurturing those under my care. Four years of studying nursing not just molded and shaped me, but helped me understand myself in a way nothing ever could do.
Most nurses don’t choose nursing because they think nursing is great. As trite as it may sound, most of us enter the profession of nursing without being aware of what it is and how it actually works. I've been in nursing for about 19 years now and I have never regretted it. In fact I have enjoyed it ever since first my interaction with my patient. That joy you feel when you realize that you lighten up someone’s face, with your presence is amazing and fulfilling. When you look at your patient in the eye and they are thankful for your kind attention and care, well, that's why I chose to become a nurse. Day one on, it has been a challenge. To ease someone's pain, whether it be physical or emotional, makes me feel as if I have accomplished something for the day. To share the joy and relief with a family who has found out their loved one does not have a fatal disease is a fabulous feeling. To help a patient and family walk through the pains of death and dying, keeps one spiritually alive. I have met many wonderful people this way. To care for a patient who is near death and to know that, in the smallest way by holding their hand and consoling them eases their pain, is rewarding. These are what nurses do. Yes, there are ups and downs, rewards and challenges but there is an enormous feeling of contentment and fulfillment. As I pen down this, I recall the overwhelming emotional experience as I inched closer towards becoming a nurse.
Celebrating International Nurses’ Day brings forth a reminder of Florence Nightingale, a young girl who was very clear about what she wanted to do and she saw nursing as an opportunity to help people. She looked upon the patient as a member of a family and she emphasized on personalized patient care. She considered love, duty, and kindness as heroic virtues, and perceived the nurse as a heroine in daily practice. She also stressed on the importance of nurses having broad interest and involvement in society's problems, and in their efforts to fight against social and health evils. Florence Nightingale's intent is equally relevant today. Today’s nursing is not only about taking care of the patients that come under the vicinity of our hospital unit. We have multiple roles to emulate; reaching out to the people in the community (community nursing), reaching the homes of those who cannot stay confined to the hospital (palliative care), grabbing opportunity to teach the patients and educate them in relation to their ailments (nurse educators) and conducting awareness programmes about prevention and promotion of health.
The gloom in nursing today is some of the vibrant youngsters only see career opportunities in nursing, and not understanding the demands of the profession. It lacks understanding that nursing teaches empathy and not sympathy, that the love, warmth and touch of hands cannot be replaced by machines; the perfect layers of documentation in the nursing station cannot fill in for a comforting word and the solace of our presence with the patient. Education in nursing has advanced tremendously, providing ample opportunities for making a career as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, certified nurse midwife, nurse practitioners, nurse educator etc. I take inspiration from many of the nursing leaders I have met and heard of. The tremendous love for nursing, the work towards uplifting our profession, the ability and potential I see in my friends and colleagues encourages and inspires me. I have evolved in nursing, and with nursing. It has given me so much love and opportunities to build me up. Challenges lead our way, disappointments and frustrations befall us many a times, but I have taken the pledge “To serve my profession with dedication... to actively support my profession and strive towards its advancement…to fulfill my responsibilities as a citizen and encourage change towards better health”. And that is WHY AM I STILL A NURSE! “Happy International Nurses’ Day 2016”
A.Purnungla Aier Asso.Professor College of Nursing, CIHSR, Dimapur
