Positve encouragement from the web and colleagues is great and a really useful tool to keep your own enthusiasm and stamina going, but make no mistake, being an entry level staff nurse on a very busy NHS ward is extremely hard work that requires physical and mental focus and stamina. I don't spring out of bed at 5am every day I'm working and bounce in to work. Mostly it is a matter of gearing myself up to the task ahead...13hr shift of non stop effort and responsibility. The secret that I've found that keeps me going is to understand and accept that I'm working within a complex and therefore flawed system which cannot be fixed. I have to just do my best in the circumstances and deliver the best service I can. If I follow policy as closely as possible it affords me some protection from omitting aspects of care or just making mistakes, such as drug errors. Sometimes when we are under-staffed the shift is one long race to the finish. I am often so concerned with completing the paper work fully that it takes away from my time with patients. Ironic isn't it?
