A Nurse's Emotional Backpack

Many things influence one’s personal perceptions of the great profession called nursing. According to the American Nurses Association, nursing is defined as “protection, promotion, and abilities, prevention of illness and injury,

We often hear that nursing is an art and a science, and I firmly believe that. The way a nurse blends those aspects of care defines the nurse. As nurses, our roles in our patients’ lives vary depending on their needs. We are teachers as well as technical experts, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our patients and families are ready to take over when the

Regrettably, the existence of nursing depends on the medical inadequacy of others. Unfortunately, nursing exists because people get hurt, cannot care for themselves, or need assistance with daily activities. Carol Taylor (2011), author of Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care, writes, “Nursing care involves any number of activities, from carrying out complicated technical procedures to something as seemingly as holding a hand” (p. 5). Taylor explains it is the duty of a nurse not only to learn the pertinent skills but also to bond with and comfort others. Nurses have to do and become many things: They must be stern when necessary, compassionate when needed, open minded

One thing that makes nursing a good career is the difference that I can make in someone’s life. Although it requires commitment and dedication, nursing is one of the most rewarding professions. It’s about caring, listening, thinking, organizing, and leading. Nurses make a difference in their patient’s lives by providing hands on care and assisting complete strangers in leading a healthier life. The warm feeling of ‘helping others out,’ giving back to the community, and influencing the success of nationwide healthcare makes nursing an intrinsically rewarding career field to pursue. Nurses are helping patients and families during their intimate times of need.

Nursing is more than a profession taught by science. It is an art that the nurse refines through the creative use of oneself based on the skills and expertise, to transmit emotions and meaning to the patient. Nursing is a process that is subjective and requires interpretation, sensitivity, imagination and active participation. A core skill utilized by a nurse is advocacy, both for our patients and our profession. Our profession requires participation of advocacy at all levels of nursing, starting at the bedside and continuing all the way to nurses in legislation. To be a proficient patient advocate, the nurse must be able to assess the patient’s constant change in physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs. I apply my knowledge

The article depicted the human side of nurses; it tells how nurses formulate that that bond with their patients and their families, nurturing them through life challenges to the end, while showing the emotional impact that is produced from that formed relationship. Through the entire article, it was very easy to see the

The profession of nursing requires a capacity and joy for caring and healing others both mentally and physically. Nurses spend their careers caring for patients and their families often in the worst and most frightening periods of their lives. Nursing responsibilities can be lengthy, stressful and physically and emotionally demanding. The demands of the nursing profession coupled with the nursing shortage and longer work hours put even more stress on nurses. Despite these extreme demands, many nurses do not fully appreciate the importance self-care. Yet without proper care for themselves, nurses are not able to provide the best care for their patients.

The nursing profession is a challenge. As a nurse, you must remember every day that you can both alleviate suffering patients by administering treatment prescribed by a doctor and by a good word and a smile. For a good nurse should not matter how hard the day was, how much trouble it encountered, but must remember the core values of the profession and why he/she chose this profession. Nurses play an important role in the healthcare system. This is why they have been correctly referred to as the heart

A combination of these experiences and his educational background of a Diploma in Nursing, a Bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management and a Masters in Corporate and Public Communication inspired my curiosity on understanding what sparked Amber’s will to be such an all-around person in the nursing profession. Amber said “to grow, one has to be willing to work hard. Nursing is beyond a gentle touch.” This phrase gave me the understanding that nursing requires considerate exposure to all the life aspects. With that understanding, one can treat patients and fellow medical professionals well. One gets to understand everything that affects their professional life, and life outside the workspace.

Additionally, nurses need to “have a heart”, so they can sympathize with their patients during the ups and downs of their health. A trait that will not be tolerated as a nurse happens to be the one that harms oneself the most: weakness. The job of a nurse necessitates strength and power though one’s body language, spirit, and attitude. Ferguson specified, “Nurses demand alertness, education, and a certain amount of mental and physical stamina” (820). Mrs. Clark added, “Being a nurse is not for a slacker. You have to want it and work hard.” One must also develop a sense of calmness in stressful and life-threatening circumstances (Ferguson 821). Although becoming a nurse may seem hard and challenging, with the right set of skills, one can accomplish whatsoever they set their mind to.

A nurse’s role consists of providing care in a variety of settings to individuals, groups, families, and communities. They have to be strong, consistent and knowledgeable leaders, who inspire others and support professional nursing practice. When it comes to being a nurse in a top ranked hospital, leadership is an important part for a highly qualified professional practice

Nurses may play different roles in the field, but their responsibilities are all very similar. Nurses must be confident in everything they do and be patient with people. They should have strong listening

Nurses are known as the heart of health care. Being a nurse is a demanding job that requires commitment, but does not lack rewards. A fact stated by the American Association of Colleges of Nurses claims that “Nurses comprise the largest single component of hospital staff, are the primary providers of hospital patient care, and deliver most of the nation 's long-term care” (“Nursing Fact Sheet”). With many roles throughout the healthcare system as a whole, nurses are a large, very important role that interacts with every other part of the health care system. They have great qualities that not everyone has. They are highly compassionate, caring, professional, diligent and understanding individuals. A nurse experiences people at their worst and still care for patients in a way that no one else would. All these honest points prove that nurses are the most important members of the health care system because, nurses spend the most time with patients, nurses are the managers of patient care; they are teachers and are great with conflict resolution.

American Nurses Association defines nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and population”( Potter,P.,& Perry, A. 2005,1-5). Thus making nursing dynamic and ever changing. However, when nursing

Working as an intensive care nurse (ICU) can be emotionally draining. There is a high degree of uncertainty that can trigger multiple emotions during one’s shift. Therefore, nurses must manage their emotions off the job just as well as on the job. In review of the article, I will discuss some strategies on how nurses protect their own emotional well-being.