Don’t worry, nurses, be happy

Shutterstock | Pablo Calvog

Nurses, you do more than enough fretting. In fact, it’s practically your job. But that’s not to say the ideal scenario is to succeed as a high-functioning Debbie Downer.

There’s simply too much to your chosen profession that is good and rewarding and positively inspiring.

So, to reaffirm your faith in the silver lining (especially if you’ve had a particularly rough shift), allow us to offer you a carefully constructed list of things you simply don’t have to worry about. Now kick up your feet, pour yourself a glass of wine and let allllll the joyous perks of nursing sink in.

1. No need to worry about stereotypes—as far as first introductions go, you’re sitting awfully pretty.  

Think about it: When you represent one of the nation’s most trusted and respected professions, you sidestep some of the unpleasantries that follow hot on the heels of others. Take, for example, a telemarketer or parking enforcement officer. While we don’t have a bone to pick with either, we imagine that they get a lot of this:

And this:

Nurses, on the other hand, can hardly get through an “Oh, I’m a nu—” without a positive remark, an unusually long handshake and a smile.

Let’s face it, even if it’s because they know you’re a solid +1 to have in tow during a crisis, people kind of want to have you around.

2. No need to worry about your work starting to feel stale—your job is so fascinating, people actually watch it (sans script) on television. 

Do you realize that people actually choose to park it in front of their television screen, pillow/makeshift blinders in hand, and gawk at all the bizarre scenarios that crop up during your everyday life?

Consider a reality show such as Trauma: Life in the E.R. Nobody had to create a scene during which an exotic dancer would enter the hospital with a stiletto embedded in her face—it just happened. Or, you know, discuss the possibility of a man taking an arrow to the neck, because that just happened, too. 

As they say, “You simply can’t write this stuff.”

3. No need to worry about the practicality of your skill set—your education is a product of money well spent. 

Sure, nursing school was costly, exhausting and responsible for a temporary decline in your social life. Kind of like:

But, heck, you garnered some pretty practical knowledge, if we do say so ourselves. You can literally save lives. As for your good friend who tore his hair out trying to unravel the secrets of the French Renaissance and then ended up becoming a freelance pilot—he may feel a bit less positive about all the cash dollars he threw down for a four-year tuition.

4. No need to worry about having somebody to share your successes with—you’re likely to have dozens. 

A lot of professionals struggle to experience the gratification of a hard day’s work, and there are any number of reasons for that. Maybe they have a “behind the scenes” kind of role. Maybe their workplace is something of a metaphorical assembly line. Either way, victories (small and large) often fall to the wayside, and that’s a shame.

Not so with nurses. While such an active, visible role can most certainly be strenuous, your triumphs are momentous. They touch people, entire families, and you’re remembered for it. Whether you’re treating a pre-dance recital earache or playing a key role in a difficult delivery, you have the unique opportunity to be somebody’s hero, if only for a moment, and guys—that’s a big deal.

5. No need to worry about losing sight of your priorities—every day reminds you of what’s important. 

You’ve heard the stories. The woman who was resuscitated after drowning; the man who saw his life flash before his eyes just seconds before a major accident. More often than not, these survivors emerge from their experience a changed man or woman. Hyper-aware of the importance of family, friends and purpose, they hug their kids a bit more often. They don’t let a bad haircut bring them down.

Nurses, having borne witness to so many medical marvels (along with tragedies), are very much the same way. Even if you’ve got quite a few years under your belt, chances are that you’re still wise beyond them, with an unusually firm grasp on exactly what matters.

To put it simply—you’ve seen a lot. Now you see the world a little bit differently, too.

You feel us?

What would you add to the list? Tell us in the comments section below!