A letter to bedside nurses

Published Jun 17, 2014

132 Posts

Dear bedside nurses,

Thank you for giving your best while your patients are at their worst, making them a bit more comfortable, doing the work of many people, going often without breaks, often stretching yourself to the max. Please remember and know that you have patients, who value your skills, knowledge, and the CARE that you provide rather than if the water has ice or the family has extra blankets, or the TV in the room works, who's idea of good "costumer service" is a skilled, knowledgeable, friendly nurse.

Remember you do make a difference and impact the lives of your many patients and that many are so grateful to have someone to care for them in their time of need, doing whatever necessary and many times gross things just to make them feel better, that you have patients who realize they are not your only patient and understand you might not be able to get to them right away, and try to do their best to make taking care of them as easy as possible, that if they could change the way hospitals are run and the way nurses are treated they would in a heartbeat.

Remember you have patients that when you take a few minutes to sit with them to comfort them after they get sick or are scared or just to build a trust or better rapport it means a lot to them and the extra mile you go for them is often never forgotten, that because of the way they have been treated by nurses since they were little they will always respect, admire and appreciate the work that nurses do, and could NEVER pass a nurse or nurses station WITHOUT SAYING THANK-YOU for what you do, as they feel it would be rude because they don't feel you hear it enough, that you have patients who would be lost if they did not have someone who is often very compassionate by their side when they need it the most and are grateful for it.

Whenever you have a bad shift, NEVER FORGET that there is a patient APPRECIATES the people on the other side of the rail who care for them when they can't, and can't thank you enough for all you do.

Sincerely your biggest fan,

Wheels28

This applies to ALL nurses really but I decided to single out bedside since they vent often on here about the workload and such. Just thought I'd clarify, don't want to rattle any stethoscopes!! :)