What about cries and spills? No way! Sometimes it’s easier to “take a chill pill.” LOL.

I’m talking about nursing. As my tagline says, I’m also a Professional Registered Nurse. So in honor of National Nurses Week, I’m dedicating this post to all the wonderful RNs out there.

I must admit that when I started out in this profession, it wasn’t all wonderful. Not everything smells like roses. In fact, I received a lot of nicks and scratches from the thorns. There were many times when I just wanted to stop. I didn’t even want to stop and smell the roses as a way of coping. I just wanted to stop being a nurse altogether.

Working in New York City at the time didn’t make things any easier. The Big City is tough. I am this little person, under five feet tall. This tiny, insignificant, new nurse in a fast-pace and sometimes harsh environment. If I wasn’t careful, I got lost and engulfed by the cold reality. I burned out quick.

Then one day, an epiphany came to me. I learned how to care.

This realization helped me in understanding what it really means to be a nurse. It’s not enough to just show up for work because of staffing shortage. Being a nurse means:

You will never be bored.
You will always be frustrated.
So much to do and so little time.
You will step into people’s lives
And you will make a difference.
Some will bless you.
Some will curse you.
You will see people at their worst –
And at their best.
You will never cease to be amazed
At people’s capacity for
Love, courage, and endurance.
You will see life begin – – and end.
You will experience resounding triumphs
And devastating failures.
You will cry a lot.
You will laugh a lot.
You will know what it is to be human
And to be humane.

-Melodie Chenevert, RN

This is an awesome poem about a great profession. She says it best. I let all the frustrations, unappreciation, and failures bring me down. I questioned my choice in life instead of learning from the work experiences. I had to truly step back, take my time, and accept why I studied nursing in the first place.

My life’s calling wasn’t a mistake, it was a blessing.  In realizing this, I evolved into a better person. Not only did I learn to do my best from the patients, I also learned from my colleagues, nurse managers, and interdisciplinary teams. Most importantly, I learned to use those learning experiences to become a caring nurse.

I used my heart and soul to interact with my patients. With that human element, I gained insight into what it means to care. Care about what I do and for those I care for:

• C compassion and competency
• A attentiveness and advocacy
• R responsiveness and responsibility
• E empathy and evaluation

Without that emotion and understanding, I wouldn’t be able to do the other part of my tagline: write about my experiences.

So I’ll take the hits of a busy schedule. Accept that I missed a couple of things only to learn from it, and get it right the next time around. Offer a kiss on the cheek for a patient’s victory. Give a hug when a patient is in need of one. Lend my shoulder when a patient cries. Clean up the spills simply because a patient can’t by themselves.

And as for that chill pill, I won’t give it to a patient because it sounds easy, I’ll give my care instead. As for me, I can always use one, especially after a hard day’s work. But I’ll take a “thank you” from a patient anytime 😉

Lisa Malabanan

I’m a proud graduate of Rutgers University School of Nursing and a Professional Registered Nurse specializing in Perinatology. When I’m not immersed in the joy of caring for growing families, including my own, you’ll find me reconnecting with the things that ground me — music, reading, and now, writing.

Reading offers me a momentary escape from the demands of my profession, but writing takes me somewhere deeper. It feels like navigating the New York City subway: characters and ideas rush in and out like passengers, some staying only for a moment, others riding with me for miles. There are delays, detours, and unexpected stops, but the journey always leads me closer to the stories I’m meant to tell.

Join me on this literary ride, where words become tracks and characters travel toward moments of challenge, transformation, and unforgettable destinations.