Nursing at that time, was a highly respected career. It was a career that made a difference. You could physically and emotionally touch people. Everyone believed that a nurse knew best and never questioned her decisions. No google search, or AI at that time to question your knowledge.
My career has served me well. It is the one thing that has always been there in the highs and lows of my life. When I moved to Brandon and started my new life, I woke up every day and said thanks to my career. It has served many purposes. It has been a distraction; it has always been a way for me to make extra money by simply picking up extra shifts. I have met some amazing people and made lifelong friendships through my career. Since I retired, I have never wished to go to work, not one single time.
There is not one thing about being a nurse that is easy. The work is physically and emotionally demanding, the hours suck, you have to work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Several shifts you do not get a break, and when you eat it is often interrupted. There is always a shortage of nurses, so often the nurses are working overtime or called in during their days off. Perhaps, this is why statistics show the career for a new nurse only lasts 5 years.
I have heard the comment, "I could never be a nurse". Well, I want everyone to know there are many, many jobs, I could never do! There were many jobs within my job that I would not want to do. Caring for sick children has always been the top of my list. Obstetrics is probably next on the list. I loved being part of a baby being born, it just seems now there are way too many people, machines and interventions for me.
When people say to me that they never went to school for reasons such as not finishing high school, or no money, or no encouragement. I simply say, "one day I had an opportunity that you didn't. That is the only difference between us". I believe you can be anything you want to be. It is never too late to fulfill a dream.
I have nothing but respect for any career. When I go into a restaurant and my waitress is a seasoned employee, and she can single handedly meet everyone's needs, I am impressed. She has made her career into being observant, efficient, and helpful. I have nothing but total admiration for those people that have taken what they do and made a career out of it. Education does not mean you are one bit smarter than someone else in life. It means you have the tools to function within that chosen career.
A good majority of wealthy people have started from the bottom with little money. They don't have any formal education, they just know what it is like to put in 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because they are passionate about a dream, they are willing to work hard at their career and they are extremely successful. Having great work ethics in any environment will lead you to success. Being able to say, "I don't know how to do that, can you show me" and "I screwed up" will get you a long way in the working world. The only thing I can say is, "get out of your career when you are still loving it and people aren't wishing for you to go". There is a reason that 65 is the retirement age.
I gave up my career as a Registered Nurse after 43 years of working. I am now a "nurse" that's not registered with fond memories of helping others. For the last 13 years of my career, I was blessed to teach students to become what I hoped would be nurses that have knowledge, compassion and caring to make a difference in someone's life.
Every single person has a career. I hope that you love your career as much as I loved mine. Loving your job makes such a difference to others and to yourself. It is so much more rewarding to reflect on once it is over.
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