Amazing nursing stories.

grownuprosie · Feb 23, 2011

I am not a nurse yet, but the reason I am going to be one is because of an amazing CNA I encountered as a child. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks when I was 10. she came in one night and asked how i was feeling. because i was a smart A$$ I replied, "I am ok, but this Hotel is horrible! People keep sticking things in me and there was not even a chocolate on my pillow when i arrived!" we laughed and I forgot about the conversation until i woke up the next morning and every morning for the rest of my stay with an Andes chocolate mint on my pillow.

She worked nights, so I was usually not awake when she came by. She made me feel really special while i was there. My family was so greatful to her that some one was looking after me when they could not be there. I think my grandma still sends her a christmas card every year! :)

nocturnalnurse · Feb 23, 2011

I love my job as a delivery nurse. Every shift for me is an amazing story. Every time I get to hand a parent the baby they have waited so long for is amazing. My job is to ensure a new life enters this world safe and with the best start possible. My advise is to find an area that you love and you will want to go to work every day. It would be a lie if I said my job can't be scary at time because things can't always go perfectly but those instances are where I get to put my skills to good use and also make me feel very rewarded too. :) the day I dont love my job is the day I need to find a new one.

somenurse · Dec 7, 2012

Here' s an amazing story, hard to believe, but, true. This happened at fairly large hospital, maybe some other nurse will recognize this story, and join in, and vouch, this really happened. I started to write this, to add to a thread on funny stories, but, realized, the ending is not really 'funny'.

still, it's a great story, but, not so much about the human spirit kind of great story, just a good story about those occasional great 'wins' we get in nursing. I'll be back later, to post an amazing human-spirit kind of story, to keep more in theme with the spirit of this here thread...

I was acute care float. I usually worked ER and ICU, but, i was sent wherever. One night, i was working IV TEAM, as i often did. My buzzer went off, for Trauma Room #2 in the ER.

oH MY, my heart instantly sank as i ran to the ER,

as that is the PEDIATRIC room,

and i suck at starting IVs on kids.

I always always would try to get out of IVs on kids, always, as my skill level on kids was not the best, it was almost a self-fulfilling thing, where i'd become so full of dread,

that i'd miss.

Anyway, there i am, coming into the ER pediatric trauma room,

and all the ER nurses hearts sink, as they KNOW i am not a real IV team nurse, mnot one of those amazing IV nurses at all..........i'm just the float that they work with, not any better than they are at IVs....it's obvious on their faces, they are disappointed when i am the IV team. I also share their fear.

and dawg, there was a full code and ongoing seizures in progress, on a 2 year older who had multiple birth disorders, and had been brought in via ambulance, from a town about 30 minutes away,

Heartbreaking.

The EMTs had stuck every visible vein in route, unsuccessfully.

The ER nurses and the doc, all had tried, both arms (any many other places) are now ruined and bleeding from previous attempts, there is nothing left. The ER doc is working to get in a central line, but, it's not going well there,

and meds are being given via ET tube and intra-osseous, but, they want a vein open.

hard to believe, as i am not good at pedi IVs, nope, and this child is bouncing, both from seizures, and from chest compressions, and is head down for a central line placement,

like, could it get any worse?

My heart is pounding, i tell ya, i could hardly breathe, anything with kids always always gets my emotions right up front,

but, i put on tourniquet, and while others hold that little arm as still as they can, i fairly quickly, insert a #20 into the antecubital, which was just stunning, as it had already been stabbed many times. They'd been using much tinier needles, which may have delayed the flashback til after they'd gone through the vein, who knows.

We verified and verified, it really really WAS in the vein above all the other holes in that same vein.

NO idea how i did that, cuz i am terrible at kids IVs, but, i did. I could not have gotten in IV into that child even if he was still, yet, it went in. Was some huge luck involved here!!!

A 20 no less! A 20 gauge iv into a very small seizing child!!

Then, i go to other arm, and do same thing! NOw, it's over, and all my adrenaline is flooding me, just flooding me, and i am now trembling slightly. This might not sound like much, but, i felt so so much pressure, that tons of leftover adrenaline are now making me tremble.

I clean up my stuff, and exit the room, my role there is done. I smoked cigarettes at the time, and i went outdoors, for a 5 minute break,, to have a smoke, since i am right by exit doors anyway. I still have on my beeper, if anyone calls me.

I heard next day, the child did live, was stable in ICU.

While i am just outside the door, in the dark, trying to calm down,

I can barely light my cig. A hand reaches over in the dark, and lights it for me.

It was a super young EMT, also kinda trembling. He said, "Wow, that was my first code. I walked into living room, and saw that child seizing, and in wanted to say, "CALL 911 !" and then, i realized, i AM 911!" :eek:

and i agreed,

"I walked into that code, and wanted to say, 'CALL IV TEAM!" and then, i realized, i AM iv team!!" :eek:

oh, we both chuckled in understanding.

this post might sound like i am bragging, but, i readily admit, *I* am not that amazing at IVs, nope! this was a fluke for ME to get those IVs in. Very next day, i blew an IV that a student nurse could hit from across the room with a dart, ha. Those days happen, too.

but this day, was one of my most amazing ("shocking" might be better word..)

moments in nursing, really.

NursieNurseLPN, LPN · Dec 7, 2012

Love love love this thread! I cannot wait to read others stories!! Thanks op!

CheesePotato, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2012

I have posted my reply as an article.

A Tale of Innovative Nursing: Making It All a Little Less Scary

Because I can. LOL. Honestly, just because it was crazy long.

You know how I love to ramble.

Cheers!

~~CP~~

prmenrs, RN · Dec 9, 2012

@JeanMarie--Where is the standing ovation when you deserve it??? Awesome!

R!XTER · Dec 9, 2012

When I was a student nurse I would always cringe at the idea of working w/ geriatrics, but now working ER, the elderly are some of my favorite patients. I just love their wisdom that can only come with age and experience, and most of them have multiple medical issues and they truly appreciate a kind word, an extra gesture of compassion. My favorite is when I meet an old couple, in their 80's or 90's. I love to ask them how long they've been together, if they have grandkids, etc. THe other night I had one such couple, the husband was the patient, and he had many many medical problems, but mental status was intact. I asked them how long they'd been together and they said 65 years! They got married in their early 20's during WW2, she sent him off to war not knowing if he would ever return, with no way of communication but letters. His face positively glowed when he told me "oh you should have seen her, she was a beauty!" and she said "he was so handsome!" their love was so obvious, it's something you just don't see with younger couples, since they have not been through all those years and challenges together. I asked them what their secret was, and he said simply, "yes dear." Those 2 brought tears to my eyes. I just love the elderly couples, they prove that it is possible to beat the odds.

NurseAMK · May 13, 2013

These stories are great!!

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2018

I'd love to revive this historical thread....! Anyone....??? :nurse: