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Some new nurses found that in the moment they rose
to the challenge, even if they didn't think they were
ready. The training they received in school and the
little experience on their new units were enough when
it needed to be.
As Mark saw EMS approaching, he acted quickly to move
a stable patient out of a bed to make way for the new
arrival. They had brought the patient in from an isolated
part of the county. Mark got a quick history from the
EMS staff as they rushed the patient into the ER. They
told him they had given the patient three "nitros"
on the way. They ran a 12-lead on him showing an ST
elevation, commonly known as a "tombstone,"
because it usually indicated death was near.
Mark took the patient's history. Both the patient's
father and brother had died of heart attacks. Midsentence,
the patient arched his back, holding his chest. His
face was grimaced. The nurse quickly marked the time
on the patient's chart. 18:22.
"Check the EKG," he said to himself. "V-fib!"
He screamed for the doctor as he simultaneously put
his hands on the defibrillator pads and placed them
on the patient's chest. The doctor arrived. Other nurses
came to Mark's aid and started chest compressions.
"Shock him," the doctor said firmly to Mark.
They achieved a good sinus rhythm on the first shock.
Mark looked at his watch and it was only 18:24. Just
two minutes had passed. He was still shaking, but he
was glad he just happened to be at the nurses station
when the "tombstone" arrived.
Not all of the new nurses we talked to had the type
of opportunity that Mark had in his first few months,
but many said they still felt just as proud and validated
that they had become a nurse. Few had regrets about
their career choice.
Julia, a new nurse from Arizona, pointed out that despite
the dire situation of the nursing shortage in her state,
she still feels inspired by the nurses she knows, even
if they are burned-out and frustrated.
"The most important thing I've experienced is
that this is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference
in the profession," she said.
When it came time for Julia's pinning ceremony, she
chose to be pinned by three nurses who she said influenced
and reinforced her career commitment throughout her
education. With 50 years' nursing experience between
them and diverse educations and nurse training (diploma,
technical and bachelor's), Julia said these nurses inspired
her with their compassion, commitment and caring. She
said it is their example that makes her challenge seem
small.
"I'm thinking my biggest challenge will be to
keep my focus on professionalism and remember that the
reason I chose nursing as a profession is because I
know I will make a difference," she said.
Later in his shift, Mark went to the CCU to visit the
man who had coded right in front of him. The man's family
showed him their appreciation. As Mark watched the family,
he felt a warm feeling wash over him. It was nice to
see the family so happy and to know that he was a part
of why that was possible. It was so nice to see the
right things done, to make a difference. "That's
why I got into nursing and why I wanted to work in the
ER, to make a difference," he thought to himself.
Contact Michelle Paolucci at michellep@nurseweek.com
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