30 years a nurse.

 In June of 1995 I took a very important exam.  I had been at St. Lukes School of Nursing for the past 3 years and it was time to sit for my licensing exam.  I had just turned 27 years old and in June of 1995 I passed the test and became a registered nurse.  It took me a minute to get to a career in nursing.  I did 2 years at University of Iowa and changed majors 4 times from journalism to pre-physical therapy to psychology to.....I can't even remember the last one...., then some random classes in California, then lots of entry level jobs just to pay for gas and rent and eventually found my way to nursing.  This is my 30 year anniversary.  I am 30 years a nurse.  

This may be one of the top life achievements I can be proud of....a close second is my marriage of 29 years followed by being a mom for almost 26 years....but for right now, I am so proud to be 30 years a nurse.  

Growing up I never had a longing to be or do anything.....I had lots of ideas and options but no calling, no dream.  I backed into nursing after flailing around without purpose for almost a decade.....and by flailing I mean trying and failing, running and falling, jumping and crashing.....and I backed into nursing because, quite literally, I needed to get training in something I could do so that I could support myself.  Nursing seemed like the path of least resistance and would give me something to do for 3 years until I came up with a new plan.  (my mom always thought I would be a good nurse and I wanted nothing to do with it, but as it goes, moms are often right).  

I enrolled in a diploma RN program, now obsolete.  It would give me 3 years of school and I would learn a trade.  Much to my surprise I loved it.  What's better.....I was good at it.  And now....I am 30 years a nurse.  After passing the exam in June of 1995 I eventually did night classes to achieve my BSN....

When I became a nurse there were very few computers and the ones that existed were big boxes that sat on a table.  Cell phones were rare and not reliable so we had home phones.  Pagers were used for being on call.  We wore white.  Not scrubs.  We had paper charts with a little bit of computer documentation.  AIDS/HIV was fresh and scary....Universal Precautions was a big deal and changed how we deliver health care forever.  I am 30 years a nurse.  

I want to say a little something to the late teens and early 20-somethings out there who read blogs.....it's ok.  You don't have to know what to do with your life right now....just keep doing the next right thing.  God will make a way if you let Him....and His way will be so, so right.  

Once I decided to let Him lead and stop flailing and trying and failing and running and falling and jumping and crashing.......I began to see a path.  I can hardly believe I now look back and see 30 years a nurse.  I'm forever grateful for all the bumps along the way that helped me stumble here.  

Nursing is hard.  It is sacrificial.  It is noble.  It is not held in nearly the high regard it is due.  We don't get bonuses.  We don't get raises that equal what we do....we don't get to recognize the cost of caring in any measurable way other than to one another when we say "I am a nurse."  We are called.  We are.  Some of us take longer to respond to the call than others but if you are a nurse you have been called.  It is not just a job.  It is an identity.  It is a perspective.  It is a world view.......It is who we are more than what we do and it is how we are more than what defines our days.  

I am 30 years a nurse.