I know I haven’t posted much about my new career as a registered nurse or my job at Dekalb Medical, but the truth is that it is one of the most important parts of my life and one of the most meaningful aspects of my existence. About three months ago, I began working on a medical-surgical unit with a focus on oncology, and I have been orientation and taking my own patients for about two weeks. I guess what really drove me to write today was a patient asking me if I regret choosing nursing, and then telling me that I was one of the best nurses they had ever come across. 

I often complained during nursing school because, as most of you already know, studying is one of my least favorite things to do when there is so much life out there just waiting to be lived! I also dedicated all of my mind and thoughts and knowledge to learn the things I know now, and I still don’t even know half of what I could and one day hope to learn. I devoted all my passion, love, and patience to my profession and my patients. I’m not sure if I even want to mention the lifetime of loan repayments I will have to endure from my years at Georgia State and Emory University. And now that I am finally on my own, nothing can describe the stress of being primarily responsible for the lives of so many people each day and communicating with countless different people to ensure my patient taken care of in every aspect of their overall health.

For the past few years, I have literally devoted all of my time, hard work, energy, passion, and so much more into what may seem like just a job or career to anyone else. So yes, it is true that nursing is a fast-paced, anxiety provoking, at times depressing, stressful and crazy job like no other I can imagine. But the answer is always no- I do not, nor will I ever, regret choosing my life purpose as my lifelong career, because even when I feel like I hate it and I just can’t wake up at 5am for a 13-hour shift even one more day, all it takes is one patient to remind me of why I absolutely and forever love it.