I read a post online that said, "Nurses are born not made."
This is an interesting opinion, similar to the notion that people are "called" to the profession.
I'm a nurse and a nursing instructor. I wasn't "called," I ambled into it. Stumbled. Thought, "hmmm.... life and death, I bet that's not boring."
Now I help people become great nurses. I help people learn nursing skills such as expressing compassion, listening, and critical thinking about health care. I provide opportunities and facilitate experiences. I help students identify and collaborate with nurses, aides, housekeepers, pharmacists, physicians, therapists, visitors, administrators, and technicians.
The students practice observing, measuring, palpating, auscultating, and interviewing. They analyze laboratory values and think about how lifestyle and medications affect disease processes. They think about where the patient will be in 5 years, and in 10 years.
Nursing can be a great job, a rewarding career, and not necessarily a calling. People can learn to be great nurses.
