Hey Nurses!

We know your jobs are filled to the brim with many warm moments that made you smile, but what's your favorite? We know it might be a tough call, but tell us about a special moment that keeps you going and shows us why nurses are so imperative to have!

Looking forward to your responses....

The first event that comes to my mind is the time that one of my long-term residents was losing the battle with ESRD.  She was cognitively impaired r/t a past CVA and her family did not want to put her through the discomfort of creating a fistula or shunt and the neverending trips for dialysis so they opted to let events happen naturally.  I was blessed to be with her and her family at the end and saw the kind of love and support she had from a committed Christian family.  She looked around the room one last time and this time she recognized everyone; we told her that if she was ready to go, then to take Jesus' hand.  At that time she kind of smiled, sighed, and lay back and passed.  It was an awesome experience with no fear.

My favorite moment is when I'm recognized by a resident who is blind, who's only meet me a few days ago. "Saying is that you crystal (with a big smileon her face)." She recognizes my voice from our later visit together.

Working @ my last job we had a 50y/o black man admitted paralyzed from waist down,w/a deep Decube almost size of my fist in his coccyx.This Gentleman had deep anger issues. he didn't get along w/staff he had trust issues,we had to be sure his meds/wound care were given on time. I was more present to his needs,for which he gave me complements and he was allowed to go to Publix to go get snacks. Sometimes he would bring me back a  small sunflower seeds bag after  having signed him out,esp after we had a rapport when he didn't have any with other Nurses except the Unit Manager. So if I  was off,  my Resident would be wondering where I was and its good to know I was missed.  Its nice when You can get thru those hard folks.

Head_Nurse says ...

Hey Nurses!

We know your jobs are filled to the brim with many warm moments that made you smile, but what's your favorite? We know it might be a tough call, but tell us about a special moment that keeps you going and shows us why nurses are so imperative to have!

 

Looking forward to your responses....

IT comforts me to know i have comforted someone who faces the fear of undergoing surgery.I am a surgical nurse and have been in that position as a patient and found it to be very frightening and humilateing to be without clothes,sitting in a hospital gown waiting for surgery.Thats the first thing i focus on and it comforts them to know we arer human too and have been through the same thing

 WELL FOR ME IS BEING IN TOTALY CARE WITH MY Pt. TAKING GOOD CARE, GIVING THEM THE ATENTION THAT THEY NEED EATHER IF IS ESPIRITUALLY OR FISICALLY. THAT IS WAHAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY AND I LOVE DOING WHAT IT IS MY PASSION AND NURSING IS MY PASSION THAT ACOMPLISH ME RELLY GOOD.

A big thanks to everyone who has shared their story so far. It's always nice to remember the *good* things about nursing to keep us motivated!

I have many favorites.. My trauma expierence,  teaching nursing, teaching a a Law college,. Psych,Detox, Long Term rehab, the TSA, school nursing,ICU,CCU, and managing a doc in the box..

I have so many memories, but I'll tellyou one that really gave me goose bumps of pride..

When I worked ER, we took turns floating to ICU<CCU<NICU and Recovery.

My time to float to ICU.. I had a female patient on the vent. I worked with her for days but she was not only on the vent, she was also in a coma..While I was caring for her. I would talk to her. About the weather,the news and my sons.. while I was with her ,she didn't come out of her coma or get off the vent..

Back to the ER.. I was taking a patient to be admitted to a room,so of course I was talking to her too. There were other people on the elevator, but that's OK, my life is an open book .I got a tap on my shoulder and a women said are you Teresa. Puzzled I said yes and she asked me if I remembered her..Seeing so many pattients all day and night I didn't  remember her. She said to me a few months ago she was on a vent and in a coma..She said she waited for me to come in because she heard all of my stories..She even asked how were my son's.. Of course, now I remembered her..She thanked me ,gave me a hug and left the elevator..

I always said  the hearing is the last to go..

Teresa

I do not have any one special moment. It is just all the little moments when a patients tells me something or just says something that make me know that I helped them in some way.

As a pediatric home care nurse I have so many moments that are heart felt and uplifting but I will give 2 moments directly out of my family. They both are heart braking. The first one happened  when my niece called me and said her 9 week old son's leg was swollen; it boke my heart as I told her to get him to the emergency room. I later found out this baby had 9 broken bones. Both boys were placed in the custody of there grand ma and grand pa. The second happened 1 year later the boys were placed back in the home of their mom and her boy friend; my husband and I picked the boys up for church 3 weeks later the younges boy had bruieses on his neck and petichi on his face. CPS was called and the boys were placed back with grandma and grand pa.

These moments were a constant reminder that we are nurses 24 hours a day not just when we are at work. I always felt that my being a nurse may have been what saved Charlie's life.

My favorite moment in nursing is when I see real improvement in my patient starting with a smile. So many times healing begins with a smile because the patient knows that you are there for them and you care!!