DAY 27: OVERTHINKERS MAKE GREAT BUT TIRED NURSES

Hear me out.

I don't know if there's any other profession that requires a checklist as rigorous as nursing when doing stuff.

Think about it, some things require double or even triple verification, others require two nurses for verification. There's a procedure for everything, there's a right way to talk, a right approach to take when talking, right posture to take when talking etc. Even in exams, there are good answers and there are best answers. Choosing a good answer when the best answer is there makes the whole thing wrong.

Understandable for a profession where a “tiny” error can lead to the loss of lives.

We go round during the night shifts just to check if the patients are still breathing. Panic sets in when a medication is not given or was not charted appropriately.

We stay making calls back to the hospital after our shift is over because we remembered something and we don't know whether we stated that during the hand-over.

Every call from the hospital after your shift has ended is anxiety-inducing. 

Did I do something wrong?

Did I forget something?

All these and more are enough to convince me that in nursing, overthinkers make the best nurses. People who overthink aspects of care usually go above and beyond to make sure their work is done well.

An overthinking nurse will not leave things to chance. They will monitor that blood sugar religiously after insulin administration per hospital protocol. They will trust their gut when something feels off. They would learn from mistakes because they will  overthink the consequences of that mistake.

They think of the worst possible scenarios so they do their best to prepare in advance. Overthinking has always had a negative connotation but here, they offer some advantages.

These sets of people are also hard on themselves especially when they lose a client. Asking “what if” questions even when they gave their best. 

Worn-out from trying to do all things at once. Stressing out on minors and majors all together. That is the con of being an overthinking nurse. We will wear out physically and mentally. Unable to think clearly because you're always thinking the worst. Administering anxiety instead of hope.

So to my dear overthinker, you're doing a great job. Don't beat yourself up, learn where you must and move on. Show up, do your best and rest in the fact that for today, your best was enough. One day at a time.