Realization

I am a new nurse. Just a small fact that you may or may not have figured out about me. So new in fact that I have more "Am I really a nurse?" moments then "I'm a nurse." I usually find myself walking into my patient's room and saying "Hi, I'm E." the whole "and I'm going to be your nurse today" I end up saying in my head. This is all very important to understand to understand what I'm about to say.

I live in Big City. So I go to Big Church. Where I hoped to meet non medical folk. I ended up meeting 2 medical students who are probably 3-4 years older then me. (I'm a young'n what can I say) Said medical students go to Big Medical Center where I work....odd. Anyway, during the day and conversations that I had with them, I realized. I've only worked at Big Medical Center for 3 months (they've been there for 3 years) and yet their treating me as their superior. Asking me my opinion on things, how we do things on our unit.

After this I realized that the residents and attendings at Big Medical Center have started treating me as their equal too.

It's a bit odd....It's great, don't get me wrong, but when you haven't come to terms with your new status as a nurse and everyone else seems to have come to terms with it, it throws you for a loop.

Anyway, things generally are going great. I have bad days, really bad days. But even after the bad days I realize that I still love this unit, I still love neuro and I wouldn't trade it for the world. The best thing is that I have really good days too. And I'm starting to feel like I fit in on the unit. Who knew that that would ever happen? That my quirky personality would fit in somewhere???? Alas