To the New Nurse: Your Heart Is the Medicine (It Always Was)

Dear New Nurse,

You made it.

Through the classes, the sleepless study nights, the exams, the doubt, and the dreaming.

Now you stand here badge on chest, scrubs on skin, heart wide open at the beginning of something both purposeful and stretching.

Before you memorize all the meds and charting codes, I want you to remember one thing: your presence alone is powerful.

Let me tell you something no textbook can:

Your presence is medicine.

Not just your charting or your skills.

But your way of listening.

Your quiet strength when a patient’s eyes fill with fear.

Your calm hands in the middle of chaos.

The warmth in your voice that says, “You’re not alone.”

The system wasn’t built with soft hearts and nervous systems in mind. It was built on policies, pace, and productivity. But guess what? That’s why The Nursing Well exists. That’s why you are here.

Of course it’s overwhelming at times.

You may question yourself.

You may cry in your car.

You may feel like you’re not enough.

But let me remind you : You are becoming.

Nursing isn’t just something you do. It’s something you grow into.

And every shift, every stumble, every small win is shaping you.

Softening you.

Strengthening you.

Please don’t forget:

It is okay to take breaks.

It is okay to not know everything.

It is okay to ask for help.

You are allowed to be a healer and a human.

So tonight, exhale.

Wiggle your toes.

Drink some water.

Put on something cozy and remind yourself: “I am learning. I am worthy. I am exactly where I need to be.”

This calling chose you for a reason.

And even when it’s hard… you belong here.

The system wasn’t built with soft hearts and sacred nervous systems in mind.

It was built on policies, pace, and productivity. But somehow, here you are.

Still showing up with both feet planted on the ground and your heart open.

To the new nurse who’s holding it all in:

You are not alone.

You are not the only one who feels like they are spinning in circles, trying to find the MAR, prep for a med pass, chart perfectly, smile kindly, and still make it to the bathroom before your bladder taps out.

You are not the only one who wonders if maybe everyone else has it all figured out… and you are just the one nurse quietly unraveling under your scrubs.

I say this with full confidence in you: "You are learning and you are doing better than you think."

When I first stepped into this role, licensed, certified, cleared for duty, I thought, “Okay, I am soooo ready.”

But nursing… isn’t just knowledge. It’s energy.

It is sometimes navigating humanity on very little sleep.

It is witnessing families break down, patients decline, coworkers get burned out, and somehow still holding space for yourself in the midst of it all.

And nobody really tells you how loud your inner critic can get when you’re new.

Some days, I feel steady. I walk with purpose. I hand off like a pro. I advocate. I catch mistakes. I educate. I show up as the nurse I know I am becoming.

Other days?

I fumble.

I overthink.

I second guess.

I cry in the car.

I read vague “be vigilant” messages in the staff group chat and wonder if I messed up.

But here’s the truth I am learning to embrace,

You can be a soft-hearted nurse in a high-pressure system.

You can value compassion over chaos.

You can work part-time hours and still be building a powerful career.

You can protect your peace and still do your job well.

You can dream of ocean breezes and still belong in these hallways.

I am grateful for my union.

I’m grateful for my paid vacation days, my protected hours, my ability to take a moment when I need it.

That’s power. That’s balance. That’s boundaries.

I love that I have a career and a calling. And I love that I am allowed to do both in a way that actually feels sustainable for me.

So if you are new, and tired, and questioning yourself: I see you, I am you.

You are not weak for needing rest.

You are not behind in still learning.

You are not alone in this becoming.

You are building something real and sustainable.

And even on the days when it feels invisible, your impact is very, very real.

The pace may not slow down, but you get to decide how you move through it.

Free Download: The Nursing Well New Nurse Essentials Checklist 🩺

I created this gentle little guide as a love note to the nurse who is just getting started because this work is meaningful, and so are you. Inside, you’ll find a curated list of essentials to support your body, mind, and spirit as you navigate the early days of your nursing journey.

No emails, no strings, just a gift from me to you. May it bring you a little more peace, presence, and preparedness.

Tap below to download your copy and carry it with you like a pocket reminder:

You’ve got this.

The Nursing Well New Nurse Essentials Checklist

With admiration and care,

The Nursing Well