[TriageRN_34]

So as a nurse we think of little things in work context mostly...I mean, like a little sucess in getting an order for neosporin, or colace when needed. A patient in pain getting 15 minutes of sleep at least...or even the joy you feel for a small BM of a patient constipated for days! You all know what I am talking about, if you don't....stop for a moment..thing of the phrase 'little things that make you happy"...9 times out of 10 it will be work related!

So here I am..a day off. I am thinking about how sick my hubby is (paramedic) and refused to call in because of the complications that would do (oh we know those too don't we!)...upset about my son who hit a child and has two day suspention even though the other child hit first...and about the two residents I know are in dire straights and I just want to be there to make sure no stone is left unturned...yep..a day typical day off in the life!

So I told myself...there is actually sun in Oregon today..get out on your porch and feel it for once! So I did!

The thoughts still plagued me...added by the typical..oh crud did I forget to chart this..sign that...oh man I could have implemented this...uhggggggg!!!!!

Then it hit me...no, really hit me...a little lady bug smack dab in the forehead!!! I whisped it off of course as instinct and watched it as it struggled to upright itself on my patio table. I placed my finger down to help...and it crawled up...I spent some time just marveling over it!

Then I noticed...ummmm...there was three on my shirt...more than that on my patio walls...EVEN MORE on my banister! Holly cow there were tons of the little lovelies! Oh yeah...it is fall, they are gathering for hibernation! How lovely it was to see all these little red sweeties everywhere! FOR a moment...if forgot the world around me, my percieved responsiblities...I was like a child marveling over nature...

Then...I heard a frog chirping...he too was calling out before hybernation...and the nuthatches and chickadees...they were tons gathered at my feeder and bird bath! Just then..and I kid you NOT...a mother deer and her two little ones walked across my neighbors yard! Holly cow!!!!! Look at all I would miss if I stayed in my house wondering about my job and the stresses of daily life!!!!

It was then when I remembered why I became a nurse! To make sure that each and every person I come in contact with...staff, patients and other healthcare people will always get a chance to enjoy these very things I was seeing...to appreciate life and nature...to marvel like a child at things I see, and to never forget to take a moment to look at these things as an adult...

Needless to say I cried a little...thinking about how these little things took me away from the stress of the day/week and focused me back on what really matters...the joy of life itself..and the will to always strive to give that to others!

Sometimes it does take a smack in the head...I was lucky it was only a lady bug..and bless that little red bugger!

Take some time out today...listen, feel, look and remember all the little things out there...you might just remember why you do the big things day after day ...

[FroggysMom]

Beautiful...Thank you.

[5scardiacnurse]

Somedays, we all need a remimder like this. Thank you for sharing.

[VickyRN]

Originally Posted by TriageRN_34

So as a nurse we think of little things in work context mostly...I mean, like a little sucess in getting an order for neosporin, or colace when needed. A patient in pain getting 15 minutes of sleep at least...or even the joy you feel for a small BM of a patient constipated for days! You all know what I am talking about, if you don't....stop for a moment..thing of the phrase 'little things that make you happy"...9 times out of 10 it will be work related!

So here I am..a day off. I am thinking about how sick my hubby is (paramedic) and refused to call in because of the complications that would do (oh we know those too don't we!)...upset about my son who hit a child and has two day suspention even though the other child hit first...and about the two residents I know are in dire straights and I just want to be there to make sure no stone is left unturned...yep..a day typical day off in the life!

So I told myself...there is actually sun in Oregon today..get out on your porch and feel it for once! So I did!

The thoughts still plagued me...added by the typical..oh crud did I forget to chart this..sign that...oh man I could have implemented this...uhggggggg!!!!!

Then it hit me...no, really hit me...a little lady bug smack dab in the forehead!!! I whisped it off of course as instinct and watched it as it struggled to upright itself on my patio table. I placed my finger down to help...and it crawled up...I spent some time just marveling over it!

Then I noticed...ummmm...there was three on my shirt...more than that on my patio walls...EVEN MORE on my banister! Holly cow there were tons of the little lovelies! Oh yeah...it is fall, they are gathering for hibernation! How lovely it was to see all these little red sweeties everywhere! FOR a moment...if forgot the world around me, my percieved responsiblities...I was like a child marveling over nature...

Then...I heard a frog chirping...he too was calling out before hybernation...and the nuthatches and chickadees...they were tons gathered at my feeder and bird bath! Just then..and I kid you NOT...a mother deer and her two little ones walked across my neighbors yard! Holly cow!!!!! Look at all I would miss if I stayed in my house wondering about my job and the stresses of daily life!!!!

It was then when I remembered why I became a nurse! To make sure that each and every person I come in contact with...staff, patients and other healthcare people will always get a chance to enjoy these very things I was seeing...to appreciate life and nature...to marvel like a child at things I see, and to never forget to take a moment to look at these things as an adult...

Needless to say I cried a little...thinking about how these little things took me away from the stress of the day/week and focused me back on what really matters...the joy of life itself..and the will to always strive to give that to others!

Sometimes it does take a smack in the head...I was lucky it was only a lady bug..and bless that little red bugger!

Take some time out today...listen, feel, look and remember all the little things out there...you might just remember why you do the big things day after day ...

Awesome post, Triage. Helps to put things in perspective.

[jnette]

Originally Posted by TriageRN_34

Needless to say I cried a little...thinking about how these little things took me away from the stress of the day/week and focused me back on what really matters...the joy of life itself..and the will to always strive to give that to others!



Take some time out today...listen, feel, look and remember all the little things out there...you might just remember why you do the big things day after day ...

Thank you...................... from the heart.

Without the little things to make up the "whole"... we are left with just that.. a "hole".

[dinkymouse]

The little things that get you through a really bad shift - walking out of a patient's room and hearing them say, "She really is a good nurse isn't she." Calming down an Alzheimer's patient that people usually just medicate and yes the bm's.

[baby&mommynurse]

Thank you for the wonderful post TriageRN_34... it was just beautiful.

[nurse_ange1]

Great inspiring post...

Yes its the little things that make a crappy shift worthwhile. And the even though we love what we do and don't expect thanks from all of our patients, it does put a little spring in your step when a patient or family member thanks you for your care followed by "I know how busy you are, and it means a lot to us that you made blank feel better .....etc"

[VivaLasViejas]

What an uplifting and inspiring post! Thank you, Triage, for reminding us of our many 'little' blessings!

[sjt9721]

I'm printing a copy of your post to keep in my locker. Thanks!