Dear Nurse: I See you Shining!

There’s something beautiful about a fresh new nurse. You see them almost immediately when you walk on the floor – they shine like a beacon. If you look closely, you can see it in their eyes – the mix of nervous energy, too much caffeine, and a dash of “Am I even allowed to do that yet?” You’re standing at the edge of your career, and let me tell you, it’s a breathtaking view!

I have the best job ever working as a stroke nurse educator and getting the opportunity to go around with my proverbial bag full of clot facts, brain maps, and a whole lot of love for knowledge hungry nurses. I get to interact with so many fresh new nurses who often don’t feel seen.

But… I see you.

I see you in the corner of the room quietly triple-checking your insulin dose because getting another nurse to verify.  I see you trying to remember your full assessment on the patient to get it right in the chart. I see you struggling to know if it’s okay to go to the bathroom or to have lunch – it is by the way. I see you comforting the family who is hearing the word “stroke” or “cancer” for the first time. I see you wondering if your voice even matters in a room full of louder, faster, more seasoned nurses.

Let me stop you right there.

It does.

In fact, that voice inside you – the one whispering “Something doesn’t feel right” – that’s golden. That my dear is your nursing gut. And let me tell you, it’s usually not wrong. If I could make anything sparkle and shine (and trust me, I would) it would be that nurse instinct. Don’t ignore it. Nurture it. Let it guide you when the hospital protocols feel clunky but the patient’s face is telling you everything you need to know.

And while you’re busy learning about BLS, assessment scales, lab values, doctor’s demeanors, hospital policy, tricky family dynamics, and all the other things there are to learn and know – remember this: you are not a task robot.  You are a human being. You are a comfort-giver, a hope-bringer, a light spreader. You are someone’s sunshine today. You are the reason someone has not only the desire, but the chance, to live another day.

Yes, the unit can often feel heavy. Some days it will feel like the code blues and grumpy charts are trying to suck the sunshine right out of you. But here’s the thing – you are not a sponge for negativity. You are a candle in the corner of the chaos. Let your light sprinkle out onto others. Be the nurse who offers the warm blanket and the reassuring squeeze of a hand. Be the one who says, “I’m right here,” when the family is scared and lost. Be what you were called to be – a nurse!

And if the heaviness creeps in?

Find your people. The ones who remind you why you started this journey. The ones who laugh with you over nerdy nurse humor (find me, I’ll bring the brain joke any time). Find the ones who look at a bad day and say, “Okay, but did you see that tiny win?”

So, from this neuro nerd to you – keep your heart open, your gut tuned in, your laughter loud, and your light shining. You’ve got this.

Now, go spread that light all over your unit. They need it. And so do your patients.

Casey Okong'o, MSN, RN, SCRN, CNRN

Casey Okong’o is an RN with a masters in nurse education. She works as a stroke educator for a network that spans Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia. Her absolute favorite thing to do is teach nurses how to level up their neuro knowledge. Passionate about interactive education and all things brain-related, Casey specializes in making complex topics like stroke and neuroanatomy engaging, memorable, and just a little bit fun. She also works as a clinical instructor for students in the last semester of nursing school and enjoys being able to invest in their success and see the investment pay off!