Advice for former patient

[Jpfr]

Hello all! I am wondering if it is appropriate or not for me to reach out and thank a nurse who helped me in so many ways.

When I was only 12 years old, I was run over by a bus in my school parking lot. I had several injuries including: fractured femur, fractured fibula, all right metatarsals fractured, fractured orbital, fractured mandible, 3 nasal fractures, and the list goes on. I was in the ICU for a while before being transferred to the childrens hospital where I stayed for nearly a month. I had several surgeries and a lot of physical therapy. Needless to say, I was not the most pleasant patient and was extremely non-compliant with the medical staff. Despite all of the pain and suffering coupled with my anger and fear, one thing always stood out to me and that was how great my RN was! She ALWAYS managed to make me smile, despite my best efforts. Her care was so unconditional and I will always remember how she helped me.

Fast forward 10 years and here I am, starting an RN program at my local community college. Her level of care is what has inspired me to become a Nurse. I want to help other people the way she helped me. I want to make a positive impact on someone's life and I want to say thank you to her. My only worry is that it will seem weird or inappropriate to bring it up after so many years. Is this normal? How would you as a Nurse react? Should I just not say anything or should I thank her? She still works at the hospital I stayed at and I will actually be starting as a volunteer in the ER there soon. Any advice or feedback is welcome. I also would like to thank each and every one of you for what you do each and every day! I hope you realize just how much you can positively change someone's life, to help them find their passion, to give them the motivation to keep pressing forward no matter how hard the path may be. Thank you all.

-Jay

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

What a lovely thing to do! I guarantee she will be thrilled and honored.

[JKL33]

This is a fantastic story, Jay. So glad you overcame all of that and have turned it to good.

I agree with mmj. As far as I'm concerned it's possibly the biggest and certainly most sincere honor a nurse could receive.

Thanks for your message to the nursing community. It means a lot.

[Jpfr]

Thank you both so much for your input. It has made me more comfortable about thanking her. I cannot wait to become an RN and be a part of such a wonderful movement. Thanks again and best of luck throughout your career!