Be a renal nurse and not work a day in your life

A renal patient finding happiness in the hemodialysis unit.

"I've never been this happy." As said by a patient given love and care by his dialysis nurse. A phrase that will tickle any ear especially if heard from a man, a father, very weak, on hemodialysis for 2 years but knows he may die anytime even if he sits on a lazy-boy chair for hours with his blood out for cleaning.

He used to work at a company with a managerial position. Being the best, all his recommendations were accepted including all of his children being given the opportunity to work in the same company. they all became as successful as he was. But when he got sick and weak, all of his children left him.

Worse, he was diagnosed with end stage renal disease and underwent hemodialysis. The old successful, proud man and father became lonely, weak and alone.

I am a renal nurse. I am dealing with hemodialysis clients every day of my life. The story of this patient is just one among the many. They say it is a very routinely job, they say it never save lives making it dull and boring. Everybody knows that without transplant a patient needs dialysis to prolong life, to stay alive.

We keep them alive therefore we save lives. They come for dialysis on a very regular basis. Too regular our hearts get broken too when they leave, we listen to their agony and we celebrate with them on a successful transplant. I agree its a routine because we care on a routine basis. However, in my opinion, a renal nurse for five years, it was never boring.

Caring was never boring.

I have seen critical patients dyspneic and edematous, even the worse of the worse but slowly getting better through dialysis and getting stronger for transplant. Yes, some did not make it. It goes for all of us too. Sick or well one thing is a common permanent end, death. The key to a successful job is to love it and never work a day in your life.

It is true that health personnel have boundaries in patient-nurse/doctor relationship. But it is also a fact that we should not treat our patients as a bed number or a laboratory result. they have names, they have feelings. Renal patients are seen most by renal nurses making them attached and involved with each other. Some, even treat each other as family. As long as professionalism and equality are practiced at all times, to care and to love will never be a sin.

The patient describes the hemodialysis center as his home. He visits the staff and other patients even not on scheduled treatment days. He said he found new friends in there and the atmosphere reminded him of what it is like to be taken care of even by strangers, he calls family now.

"I've never been this happy." with tears the patient told renal nurses and doctors on a speech at a Christmas party for patients and staff of the hemodialysis center. it is a week before he died.