Sad as it may seem I do not have 50 or so posts already physically written or carefully cataloged in my brain ready for use, but have to be in some way inspired. This may be through particular incidents which I want to write about or trigger memories of something else that has happened that is perhaps in some way linked, or it may come through reading other people’s blogs and feeling the need to write something on that or a similar topic.  I often go to one of my regular reads and then move through some of their links, and some of theirs and so on, I know I should get a life (actually I have one, but this is a good avoidance tactic for real life). This morning then I found my way through Kim’s Emergiblog to  Nicole’s Blog Moon is Chasing  Me, to find something which I consider quite disturbing. Nicole has been writing about her experiences as a student nurse, she is new to nursing and is encountering new patient experiences, finding out about some of the challenges and of course juggling the theoretical work and dreaded exams. As a nurse of many years experience I love to read about these kinds of experiences, I like to hear the enthusiasm coming out, I love to see how people grow and develop and am happy to offer support when things aren’t going quite so well.

What kind of nurse then would, following reading the blog of a student nurse, send off an email to that person telling them that their idealistic view of nursing is fatally flawed and that they should move out of nursing, possibly into nuclear medicine before it is too late. Firstly it is cowardly to send this (a pretty long ramble) by email rather than posting is as a comment, but secondly why write such a thing at all when you ought to be discussing your problems with friends, family or perhaps a counselor  rather than inflicting yourself on an unsuspecting person you don’t even know.

Good on Nicole then for posting the email for us all to read, and good on her too for rising above the criticisms contained within it. To be a good nurse you need to be able to critically reflect on your practice and the practice you see around you. You need to be able to justify your actions and you need to demonstrate that you care what happens to your patients. Life can be tough, the pressure put upon nurses has never been greater, but it is great to know we have future nurses like Nicole rising to the challenge.