Has Nursing been good to you?

I recently attended a banding ceremony for a nursing student. I saw a former instructor and went to speak with her. After reminding her of my name and class, she was pleased to see me. She asked me the following question: "Has nursing been good to you?" I replied "yes" simply because it has been. I have a good career and have worked full time since I graduated. I make good money, and I can find a job almost anywhere I want to go. Nursing is great profession.

I sat down for the banding ceremony. I remembered my banding ceremony and the feelings of pride I had on that day long ago. The feelings of relief of being halfway done with the nursing program, the hope I would graduate, and the determination to be the best nurse possible.

I currently make good money and have a job in high demand field with a limited work force. I have endless opportunities to succeed in the field of nursing and have been able to do so with hard work. Nursing has been good to me, and provided for me and my family.

During the banding ceremony, I was contemplating the question my instructor asked. I then realized she asked me the wrong question. The question should have been: "Have you been good to nursing?"

I will be the first to admit I have not been a good steward to nursing. I used to think if I showed up to work, took good care of my patients, and stayed out of trouble that was good enough.

I was wrong.

I recently returned to school. I have obtained my BSN and I am working on my MSN. I plan to earn a doctorate in nursing. Returning to school reinforced the belief I have that nurses need more solidarity and cohesion to advance as a profession. Higher education has also shown me nurses must repay the gifts they receive from Nursing. Nursing is a profession which is still growing and expanding. We cannot be satisfied to earn good wages and have a steady job with benefits. We cannot let others control the growth, direction, and future of our profession. As nurses, we have to repay the gifts of Nursing we have received by continuing our education, performing research, teaching others how to be nurses, and being actively involved in nursing associations on the local, regional, and national level.

Nursing is a profession and an art. Nursing is a living and breathing thing which must be fed and nurtured. Nurses have to do the feeding and nurturing. We have to take care of the profession which is taking care of us. Nurses have to be the stewards of our great profession, and work to expand nursing knowledge, science, and art forms. As stewards of nursing, we have to hold one another accountable and hold one another to the highest standards. These standards are not only professional or practice standards but include how we conduct ourselves and represent our profession publicly. We owe these things to one another and to our great profession, which has provided numerous gifts for so many of us known as nurses.

At the end of my nursing career, I want to be able to say: "Yes, I have been good to nursing." "Yes, I contributed to nursing science." "Yes, I helped show others how to be a nurse." "Yes, I am a master in the art of nursing."

My question to you is: "Have you been good to nursing?"