Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about work years ago or maybe even a few weeks ago? I don’t do that too often, but every once in a while, I think about the “good ‘ole days” when I never took work home. When my shift was done, my work was done. I may have carried thoughts about patients or other events home with me, or “worked” to get sleep during the day, but I never took any work away from the unit.
Now, it feels like work finds me (or can find me) everywhere. I’ve taken conference calls and sent emails in some very unlikely places and times. That is, until I re-evaluate my boundaries. It’s a cyclical learning process for me…
I find myself thinking about people, too, though…those that made a difference in my life or those that educated me or those that made me laugh and kept me sane during the crazy-hectic shifts. Ahhhhhh. Yep, those were the good ‘ole days!
I’m sure, in a few years, I’ll look back at these moments and think similarly.
What are some of the things you wish for or think of from the “good ‘ole days” of your nursing?
Carol Cannon
July 2, 2013 9:09 amI miss coming into work at 6:45, getting report, doing assessments and giving out meds, all before 8 am. I miss hitting the ground running. I miss meeting new patients and hearing their stories. I miss leaving everything personal at the door, because it is all about the patients. I miss the feeling of success when you see blood return in a line or urine in the catheter tubing. Wow…I guess i miss a lot!