If there is one thing I know about nursing it’s this:

It is most definitely NOT plain sailing.

We all know what it’s like to put our patients above ourselves, burnout is all too frequently seen, and supportive clinics where teams are looked after can still be hard to find.

And in order to look after our patients, we need to be looking after ourselves.

Today I’m chatting with Kat, a student nurse in Norway. Kat and I met through the medical nursing academy, and today she’s sharing her own very personal and vulnerable journey through nursing so far, highlighting some of the challenges she’s faced, and the tools she’s used to work through them - so that she can keep herself healthy and deliver the best possible care to her patients.

I know that you’ll find so much value in her story, regardless of the clinic you work in - because every single of one us has been in her shoes at some point in our careers.

A new career in a new country

Kat worked as a teacher before switching to life as a veterinary nurse in her early 30s.

She moved from Denmark to Norway to begin working as an assistant in a large busy hospital, which included referral cases as well as first-opinion/GP cases.

Enrolment intakes for nursing school meant that her training was delayed, but fast-forward 10 months and Kat was able to begin studying nursing full-time. She was offered to return to that hospital in a student role between terms at school, but changes to the hospital and team, coupled with more competitive salaries elsewhere, meant Kat felt she would be more suited to a different environment.

Kat was offered 4 potential roles by a clinic representative who visited her school - and chose a placement at a small, mixed GP/referral clinic with a supportive manager where she felt like she could thrive as she finished her training.

“I decided on my current clinic, a relatively small clinic but one where we also see occasional referral patients. The boss seemed great, and I did a thorough job talking about expectations etc. with her beforehand. I thought to myself that this would be a great place to learn and have a base through my studies.”

Does being a student mean you can’t speak up?

It can be easy to feel like we need to settle as students. Like we owe our clinic something because they are getting us through our training. And whilst yes, we owe our clinics our time and attention on shift, our maximum effort at providing excellent nursing care and commitment to our studies…

This does NOT mean that you do not have a voice, or that you should tolerate behaviour that is unfair because you are training.

You have a choice - and you should not be afraid to find a clinic that will support you and get the best out of you whilst you’re training (and beyond).

It’s in everyone’s best interests - you become a better nurse, your team thrives, and your patients get better care.

So don’t feel like you can’t speak up for what you need - and if you’re really struggling, it’s entirely possible to change clinics throughout your training period (I did!)

What to do if you’re in a tough clinic

Kat’s clinic had a major management change whilst she was just starting there - and it’s made things tough throughout her time there so far.

“The work environment has changed and I currently find myself in a reality where good colleagues who really try their best to make my stay as pleasant and educational as possible (all the changes have also been hard on them) just aren’t enough to balance out the toxicity.”

So how can we improve things if practice life is tough?

I’m sure many of us know what it’s like to be in Kat’s shoes - so what can we do to make this situation better?

If you’re struggling in a challenging environment, here are a few ways you can make things a little easier:

1: Challenge yourself in good ways

Look for the wins - sometimes this will mean pushing your comfort zone a little to grow and develop new skills. Those skills might seem small - but celebrating them is still so important. It’s all progress - and that progress will add up to make big changes in your career.

For Kat, moving from a larger clinic to a smaller one really allowed her to learn different skills. She’s mastering different challenges - like doing more front-of-house work in a second language, or doing more ‘general practice’ nursing and preventative care - and although all of this felt daunting to begin with, celebrating those achievements helps to boost her confidence and focus on some good in a challenging environment.

2: Focus on the difference you’re making

It can be too easy to feel like you’re not doing much when you’re a student.

I remember watching the second-year nurse, and the RVNs in my hospital do so much more than me and feeling like I was a burden on them all - but in reality, I was doing far more for my patients than I gave myself credit for.

So look for those wins, and ask yourself: “How did I make a difference today?” like Kat is:

“I find it so rewarding when I can see that my work has made a positive impact - even a small one! - on my patients, their families, or my colleagues.”

One way that Kat particularly tries to make a difference with her patients is by reducing stress. This is - in her opinion - one of the nursing interventions that has the biggest impact on patient wellbeing.

And she’s not wrong. Patients who feel more settled and relaxed in the hospital are far more likely to move around more, eat more, warm themselves up quicker after GA or sedation, accept treatments, and ultimately end up discharged from the hospital faster than those who are hiding at the back of the kennel, refusing food and medications.

“I immediately think of stress reduction. I am currently following the ISFM Certification in Feline Nursing, and doing my best to speak up for the needs of our cats.

Trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible and advocating for their needs is something I prioritise, as I know this has the potential to improve so many aspects of their stay.”

3: Find colleagues who lift you up

Find your tribe and stick with them. Even if things seem tough, and you’re in a difficult environment, there will always be people there who will support you. That might be your head nurse, or a receptionist, or a fellow nurse, or VCA… and regardless of their role, talk to them about your struggles, strengths, and the things you want to learn. You’re never alone in nursing - there will always be someone else who has your back.

In Kat’s case, her nursing colleagues are absolutely vital in this:

“My colleagues do a great job in including me in the daily treatments, etc. so I get to build on my practical nursing skills as much as possible.”

4: Don’t overlook self-care

It sounds cliche to say it, but looking after yourself first is absolutely essential. In an aeroplane, we’re taught to put our own oxygen mask on first - because in the split-second you have, if you put someone else’s on before yours, you’ll pass out.

That principle applies to nursing, too.

You cannot give the best possible care to your patients and team if you are not first giving that same level of care to yourself. Especially if you’re in a tough environment - you need to be looking after yourself first.

Not just physically - but mentally, too. Keep celebrating your wins, focusing on the good, debriefing after a tough day, and finding non-veterinary things to do that make you feel good.

“I think I am currently unable to find a non-cliché way of expressing the importance of self-care, but then again clichés exist for a reason right?”

5: Communicate well

Communication is one of the most overlooked skills we have as nurses. And if you’re in a tough environment, this can be even harder. Being able to communicate well and speak up for yourself during difficult situations (and in general!) is so important.

Kat has found this so valuable, as it allows her to learn more for next time, and put stressful situations behind her more easily:

“Just like the air we breathe and the water in the tap communication is just there, but as with air and water, the quality varies a lot.

I have found that it more often than not pays off to take a few minutes for a debrief with colleagues after a stressful situation. 

Often when things are busy it is easy to overlook and just move on, but I have experienced that it is in debriefing I learn how to improve for next time, while the situation is still fresh. 

A lot of misunderstandings can be corrected by addressing them with the person who said something seemingly hurtful, instead of it simmering in your brain and becoming a very different story.”

6: Don’t let impostor syndrome get in the way

Impostor feelings can be tough the entire way through our careers, but we experience them a LOT as students. That, along with the steep learning curve and starting nursing in her 30s were some of Kat’s biggest challenges when she began training.

The reality? You’re not an impostor. No one is. I won’t do impostor syndrome work a disservice by going on about it in detail - there are experts like my good friend Katie Ford who can provide much better advice on the topic - but the reality is that there is one you. You’re an exceptional person just as you are.

You’re not enough when you know more, or when you can perform X skill, or when you get into X clinic. You already are.

That being said, one thing that has helped Kat feel more confident is learning more, and finding a community with values that are similar to hers - somewhere she can escape to after a tough day in her clinic.

For Kat, that was the academy.

“The academy appeared in my feed like a real-life version of the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter. The core values behind the academy resonate with me, and I love the “thank you for learning WITH me”-approach.

Sometimes a webinar will provide me with more knowledge on procedures I have already seen but not fully understood, and other times I learn things that I later find useful while in the clinic or at school.

I am grateful that there is a place and a community like this, where I can learn and improve at my own pace and be inspired by the experiences of others, it is highly motivating and empowering, especially in tough times like these.”

Whatever it looks like - have a support system to lean on outside of your clinic if things are tough. A group of friends who motivate and inspire you, support you when things feel like they’re going a bit wrong, or help you through your studies.

And remember - every single nurse will have gone through this at some point in their careers. The team you’re working with know what it’s like to train and struggle. They know how it feels to struggle with impostor syndrome and life in a tough clinic - even if they don’t talk about it.

So keep celebrating your wins, clinging to the difference you’re making, looking after yourself, and creating a group of supportive people around you.

Did this post help you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this today - and tag me on Instagram, I love seeing your posts!

If you want more information on impostor syndrome and some tools to help you when things feel tough, the wonderful Katie Ford, impostor syndrome coach and vet, delivered a free access webinar to the academy recently. You can catch the entire thing for free here.