The post-it reads “Ambition. Dirty word?”
We’ve all worked with the ambitious nurse who has designs on the captain’s chair.
So to speak.
The nurse who has ambitions to be something beyond “just a nurse”. And who is willing to do just about anything to become something beyond “just a nurse”.
I used to think that I didn’t have any ambition because I never aspired to nurse manager or assistant nurse manager. Or house supervisor.
I’m sure there is a Star Trek reference here.
After all, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay had ambitions to be the captain. Or the hero. Or to be anyone else than Lieutenant Barclay. This is a Star Trek Next Generation and Voyager reference.
Ha! I knew I could do one.
It isn’t bad to have ambition for higher rank. Or a higher position.
But there may not be room for a multitude of people at the top.
It is when your ambition blinds you to who you are hurting as you jockey for a higher position that is dangerous to you.
Never forget that as operating room nurses, as labor and delivery room nurses, as emergency room nurses, as cath lab nurses, as mother baby nurses, or NICU nurses the reason we work is for the patient. That is good enough for me.
My ambition is to be the best nurse I can be.
I think it is a pretty good one.
Dispatches from the Evening Shift 