Days you are glad you are a Nurse

Published

Would love to hear about the days that make you feel like you have chosen the best job in the world? Those days when you may really see someone smile or feel better because of something you have been able to do for them.

What inspires you as nurse? :nurse: :yeah:

My favorite moment in the nicu so far...

Two weeks ago taking care of a baby I had admitted 1 week earlier, he had almost gone on ECMO and was very unstable for a few days, his parents had been told he likely wouldn't make it much longer. A week later he was still intubated but doing much better, blood pressures stabilized, he wasn't being transfused twice a day, electrolytes leveling out and was way less sensitive. Well later that afternoon I gathered up another nurse, a respiratory therapist and spent about 15 minutes organizing him and all his lines, tubes and leads and was able to help his mom hold him for the first time ever, at this point he was 12 days old. She was so happy. She spoke a different language than I but I didn't need her to verbalize her thanks, she sat there smiling and crying for 3 hours until I had to take him in order to hang his lines before the night shift came on. He stayed completely stable the entire time and was not agitated at all like he had been when not being held. Definitely a good day all around :-D

As an add on to this...this little guy went home today, exactly 3 week since he was admitted so close to death, the sickest baby I have yet to admit in my one year. Hugs and kisses all around, his family was so happy, definitely felt awesome :redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, MS, CC.

Today when my 91 y/o DNR pt lay gasping with air hunger and his wife of 66 years asked me and the night shift nurse while we were in bedside report if we thought it was possible to let her sleep in the bed with him, and at the same time I said "absolutely" while the other nurse said "I don't know" and I looked at that nurse and said we'll just scoot him over and as long you don't mind us waking you up every so often we come in and turn him, and she said I don't mind at all, but we've been together 66 years and never slept apart and I don't want to start now, When we left the room, I told the other nurse they don't have many more nights together, if this brings her some comfort, let's give them this, we got it cleared with the charge nurse and all the staff left smiling- knowing that we were doing something unusual for us, and great for a family with just a little time left intact. It was a very nice feeling!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Complex Care.

Had another one of those days that makes all this worth it. I had a pt who needed an enema, when I was done inserting it, I stayed with the pt.so I could slip the bed pan under if need be. Well at the end if my shift after this was all done the pt got teary eyed and thanked me a thousand times for staying with her and encouraging her to retain the enema. She was afraid to be alone when she had to go. Its amazing how something so small can be appreciated so greatly :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really enjoyed reading all of these posts. It makes me really look forward to being a nurse.

Thanks for sharing everyone! :yeah::redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know I chose the right profession when the first Christmas I ever spent away from my family alone in another state working a long night shift, one patient/family brought the staff a ham dinner!! So unexpected. They became my family for that night : )

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Inpatient Adult Oncology.

I had a patient who was starting chemo, and her hair was just beginning to fall out. She was so upset, it was devasatating to her...she didn't want her husband to see her with her hair falling out, and she was so embarrassed. When I had the time while I was working, I went into her room and I sat her up...and we shaved her head...we then put a scarf on her head...It was inspiring and wonderful to help her in that way.:redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I had a patient who was starting chemo, and her hair was just beginning to fall out. She was so upset, it was devasatating to her...she didn't want her husband to see her with her hair falling out, and she was so embarrassed. When I had the time while I was working, I went into her room and I sat her up...and we shaved her head...we then put a scarf on her head...It was inspiring and wonderful to help her in that way.:redbeathe

Wow...that is something great to be able to do for someone, or experience with someone. When patients lose their hair during chemo, does it grow back? I had cancer, but I didn't have chemo, so I never had to deal with that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I like this thread, just wanted to bump it back to the first page :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

There are so many days I feel grateful to work in my field. I LOVE my job! I love watching babies beat the odds. There's a set of twins at my work who have a really poor prognosis...they weren't supposed to live to be one. They are not only older than one, they are THRIVING, getting HUGE, and starting to meet milestones. One of them is my primary, and every morning I walk into that room it is a testament to the difference good nursing care makes. When he looks up at me and smiles I feel like I'm really doing something good. We work really hard for our kids, know them inside and out to be able to react quickly when something starts going askew, and I truly believe that is the reason they are still alive. We know what to look for when their O2 needs are increased, when they start getting febrile out of nowhere, when they just don't look right. I love knowing what we do for these kids truly makes a difference. These are the moments I know this job is for me, and thankfully there are a LOT of them!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Wound care, Surgery,Infection control.

Any day that I can make a difference is a good day, but there is one experience that cannot be topped : Occasionally when I'm leaving work I will see a mother with her newborn baby preparing to exit the hospital. It's just so incredible that I am witnessing the first time this little baby is outside, breathing fresh air and going home. With so many bad things in the world, this gives me hope.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow...that is something great to be able to do for someone, or experience with someone. When patients lose their hair during chemo, does it grow back? I had cancer, but I didn't have chemo, so I never had to deal with that.

I think it depends on the patient and the kind of chemo. Mine came back exactly the way it used to be, thick, curly, amazingly wonderful (seriously...you never know how awesome hair is till you don't have any...although baldness certainly cut back on my getting-ready time) but an older woman at work never quite got all of hers back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics and geriatrics.

The days I can make one of my "kids" smile and laugh makes me glad I chose this profession. I try to remember those moments when I am stressed and feeling pulled in a million different directions!! I work with severely disabled children. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion