*It is just as or more important for you to have a good nurse in the hospital than it is a good doctor!
*That I am so happy I had my children before I had 18 hours worth of lectures about everything that could go wrong with mommy and baby.
*That blood does not bother me at all but vomit and poop (the grown up kind) I almost cannot handle. It takes everything I have to keep it together in front of my patient.
*That nursing is very rewarding and many patients will Thank You profusely for taking care of them.
*That most patients apologize to their nurse if the nurse has to do something that embarrasses them. (change a dirty brief, a dressing, empty a bedpan etc..)
*That it is so hard to keep a straight face when your patient "blows" you in the face while changing their brief.
*That I will never view my body the same again. Every little thing could potentially be something big (in other words I can see how nurses become hypochondriacs).
*That everyone will ask you for health advice and it's usually about something I know NOTHING about.
*That if you pretend you know what you're doing your patient will not get totally freaked out by having a nursing student for their nurse. And that some people love to have a student for a nurse because we are so cautious and spend time with our patients.
*That everyone thinks nurses make a ton of $$ but I think they are underpaid for how hard it is and how much you have to know and for how much responsibility you have.
*How to make perfect corners when making a bed.
*How to make a pillow when you cannot find extras on the floor out of pillowcases and towels.
*That sometimes all your patient wants is for someone to listen to them.
*That it is a very hard profession and I love it!