Oct 25 2011: I read, Louise, that you are a nursing student. That's fantastic. I'm a nurse as well, practicing in a large level-I trauma hospital in the Midwest. While my patient interaction is fairly brief due to the nature of the patients I work with and the short holding times on the trauma stabilization unit, I don't have a chance to get to know my patients, nor do they have any idea who I am. 9 of 10 times they are unconscious during my interaction with them. I believe your question just proves how dedicated you are to the field. A 'bad' nurse would never question the differences between a good and bad nurse, maybe they're afraid of what they'll learn of themselves. Maybe their justification of good or bad is different though. I consider myself to be a good nurse. I'll fight tooth and nail for my patients. I'll go toe-to-toe with any attending or resident that I feel isn't giving the proper treatment to my patients. While my patients won't know me at all, I know that I've done what I can. Remember this; you are here for the patient. You keep them safe. You keep them alive.
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