Nurses as Bedside Warriors

For seven straight years, an annual poll has identified nursing as the â??most trusted profession in America.â? It is gratifying to know that nurses are viewed as honest and ethical. Some patients and their families even describe nurses in angelic terms. Certainly, empathy and compassion are vital elements in nursing. Yet, as new nurses quickly learn, nurses must also be persistent, dynamic and knowledgeable. There are times, for the sake of our patients, that we must also be assertive and resolute.
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Experienced nurses know that it takes supreme fortitude to endure the rigors of our profession. By necessity, nurses become hardy, resourceful, and extremely well organized. In order to survive in our field, we find ways to develop tenacity, along with our critical thinking skills. In other words, we become bedside warriors.
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As bedside warriors, nurses actively work to promote the well-being of their patients. Frequently, as we advocate for our patients, we find ourselves in conflict. The most obvious conflict is with the patientâ??s disease process or injury. And, we all know how often bedside nurses must fight the natural force of gravity (for example, when we turn or transfer a heavy patient).
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In addition, most nurses wrestle daily with a perpetual battle against time. As we struggle to complete long (and ever-growing) lists of orders, nurses often face an enormous time crunch. There are seemingly endless medications to give, wounds to dress, patients to bathe and ambulate, ancillary staff to contact, and nourishment to provide. And, naturally, each of these is linked to some sort of documentation requirement! And letâ??s not forget that nurses also provide patient and family education.
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Although most nurses are efficient and punctual, prudent nurses know that we should not necessarily be in a hurry. ?All nurses learn to juggle multiple tasks while simultaneously feeling pulled in every imaginable direction. At the same time, we learn to strive for a steady and even work pace because hasty care can create problems. And, a hurried nurse may also fail to develop a patientâ??s trust.
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Certainly, in emergency situations, time is of the essence. Thus, in emergency, as well as routine situations, experienced nurses learn to function like well-oiled machines while maintaining their emotional balance. I recently heard a seasoned nurse laugh in response to a harried colleagueâ??s complaints. â??Honey, the word, â??hurryâ?? has not been in my vocabulary for a long time.â? This particular nurse provides excellent, timely and soothing care to her patients. I felt fortunate to overhear her bit of advice.
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Although our pace may not always be frenetic, as bedside warriors we often work at a rapid and efficient pace. Often with little time for breaks, we find ourselves sweating as we heft heavy loads or run for vital equipment. Sometimes, we turn to colleagues for help, or offer our tired hands to a nurse struggling down the hall. It is so much easier to fight the bedside battle together. At least then we know we are not alone.
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I have found most nurses willing to pull together to form strong teams of warriors on their units. While some nurses prefer to work alone, most of us are willing to assist our overwhelmed peers. We are certainly not going to let our colleagues drown. After all, we have been in their shoes at some point in time. Of course, our own patient care must come first, and we must never jeopardize our own patientsâ?? care in helping others with their patients. But, when our patients are stable, we are there for our fellow warriors.
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At the end of the day, as bedside nurses we can go home feeling gratified in the knowledge that we have given our best to the dayâ??to our patients, to our rounds and to our selves as caregivers who make a difference. I know at times, it seems like nurses are expected to be perfect. The truth is that we are human and our perfection comes in different waysâ??our want to make a difference and our willingness to do so day after day, which is why we repeatedly rally and return to the bedside that next morning or afternoon or night. At times, we may feel as if we are working against daunting odds. Much of the world may seem oblivious to the harsh realities faced by our patients on a daily basis. But, as their bedside nurses, we share in their struggle because we are human and we look forward to being there to help them fight the battle.
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So, thank you to all those who participated in the poll. We appreciate the trust the nation puts in nurses just you and me everyday.
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If you would like to check out the poll, here is the link:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/112264/nurses-shine-while-bankers-slump-ethics-ratings.aspx

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