Happy Nurse Week

I am a little late with this...but as they say better late then never...this Nurses Week brings a very special insight to why I am a nurse...First of all as of May 10th I have been a nurse for 30 years...I graduated from on May 10th 1980 with a BSN...and started my first day of work on May 17th...I remeber that first day of work...I got up and got dressed in the white dress uniform I wore for my pinning...ate breakfast and got a spot of margerine from my toast on my dress...not a good start...I managed to clean the spot and get to work for my first day of orientation....boy did I feel special and ready....little did I know what my career as a nurse would unfold that day...I only wanted to be a nurse that worked part time and have a family...boy ...I never dreamed that my life would end up the way it did....Well I did get married a year after I started working as a nurse and a year after that I had a baby... and a year after that we bought our first house and a month after that I was separated...now I needed to work full time to support myself and my child..ka boom!!! Well actually I worked as a staff nurse for full time for a couple years then I decided I can do better than this for myself and my daughter...I went on to apply for a Staff Development job and at the same time got accepted to MSN program for Nursing Education.....my salary was increased and I was able to get myself on my feet financially...I finished my MSN in 5 years going to work part time....I got remarried after being a single Mom for 9 years.....I continued to work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist after I got married...during the 13 years as a Clin Spec I decided to go back to school to be a Family Nurse Practitioner...this was the best thing I ever did...being an NP is the mecca of being a nurse...you use your nursing skills, knowledge, prioritization, sensitivity, autonomy, medical knowledge and compassion when caring for patients...I have worked in private sector and I am presently in the VA system...the later has given me more satisfaction in my job then anything that I have experienced in my nursing career, the vets I care for have served our country for everything we believe in...freedom,safety and the pride of what this country gives everyone ...opportunity..now it is my time to give back to them...I pray everynight and count my blessings for what I have because of what the service men have done for this country....if it wasn't for our servicemen ...we wouldn't have what we have now.....I have the opportunity to give back to them ...both men and women...I have helped many of vets who either don't have insurance or have very little insurance ....they come to the VA for medical care for service injuries or medical conditions related to serving in the military..some come because they are ill for other reasons....I have been fulfilled with the greatest gift ..the opportunity to use my Nursing skills to give back to these men....I have cared for many that have recoverd from their illnesses and many that I have diagnosed with terminal illnesses and have helped them through a comforting death....I have helped those who have developed debilitating illnesses and can no longer care for themselves and provide for their families....I have cared for those who no longer remember their loved ones or what even happened yesterday...I have cared for those who are strickened with mental illness and substance abuse...those who through the strif of war can not deal with what they have seen or experienced during war times...It is an insrumontable experience....one that I wish I can share with all Americans...especially during this time of so many people not realizing that health care is truely needed for all..and that it truly is a gift that our current leader has been able to make sure that we all can have this ...I really believe the great leader that said "If you have your health you have everything"...for those of you who think the health care policy in dipping into your pockets and putting this country into debt...you need to see what I see everyday....people who have to decide between buying food or paying for medication ..they usually decide on food and let their health deteriate that by the time I get to them it is beyond repair.. It is very sad and suriel to see this happen...so for all the nurses out there that understand what I am saying...I say thank you for all you do...you are truely the handmaiden that Florence Nightengale has depict.. she has lead the way for all of us...I say kudos to all of you... and continue to stand up for what we are meant to all patients.....we deserve to be recognized for everything we do...God bless and continue to do your best work!