Shy no more

I realized this week that I am the person I thought I could never become. I quit nursing school 6 weeks away from graduation because I would never be able to do all that was required of me. There are so many responsibilities of a nurse how could I ever do them all. I was so quiet and soft spoken. Talking to doctors was a chore. I was so uncomfortable with who I was how could I help people in their time of need. Luckily, I continued on with school graduated and became a nurse. It has been two and a half years and I love every minute of it.

I am a patient advocate. The girls who couldn't speak for herself is now speaking for her patients and her colleagues. Many people I work with laugh when I say I was once shy.

This week I was my own advocate. But first we must go back a few months. I worked with a Radiologist a few months back and I could not seem to please her. She made me cry. That is what I do in situations of conflict. I cry and I don't stop. I let the other person know they have the power. Luckily, I did not have any run ins with her for awhile. Last Friday I worked with her and things went smoothly. So when I had to work with her yesterday I felt prepared. I got her first patient situated and then called her down. Unfortunately, right as the doctor walked through the door the patient asked if he could go to the bathroom. As I walked him to the bathroom the doctor completely went off on me. She said "You do not call me down here so the patient can go to the bathroom." The patient apologized and the doctor said, to the patient, "no you are fine. She should know better, she knows her job " then rambles on under her breath. I walked the patient to the bathroom then marched right up to where she was sitting and said DR. X, YOU DO NOT TALK LIKE THAT TO ME IN FRONT OF A PATIENT, THAT IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE, AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE IT." (capitalization represents a stern voice, not yelling, I kept my cool) I like to think she cowered at this point I think she did a little. She responded, "yes that was inappropriate to say that in front of the patient I am having a bad day and I took it out on you." I said "I can understand a bad day, we are good and walked away." The patient came back apologizing to the doctor making sure she knew it was not my fault. Poor guy he felt so bad. So as the Doctor talked to the patient the radiology tech thanked me for saying something because apparently they have been dealing with her crap all day.

I later told my boss and she was so excited for me. She said that I will never have a problem with that Doctor again because I put her in her place.

I must now be careful because that is the second doctor I have set straight this month. I might get out of control.

So there you have it I am not as shy as I once was. I still have a lot to learn about my role as a nurse. However, I am becoming more confident every day. I love what I do I love the patients I get to work with. I am incredibly blessed to be able to serve these people as they start out on the road to recovery.