Dear Coworkers:

[Mommy&RN]

I love my job.

1.) Thank you for noticing that I am behind and stopping me and making me tell you what you can do for me.

2.) Thank you for coming in and helping clean up the 300+ pound lady who had one of those incont. BMs that you just look at the bed and say "where in the heck do we start?" (At 0620)

3.) I think we did one heck of a job keeping the confused man from injuring himself. We also watched each other to make sure he didn't hurt us.

4.) To the RN in ICU where we had to transfer this man, yes we KNOW it totally sucks to get a transfer this close to shift change, but considering we have given him enough meds to stun a small horse and he is still trying to harm himself, he needs your care so that he doesn't hurt himself. BTW, we suggested the transfer several hours ago, and the doc wanted to try more meds and the transfer this close to shift change, sucks on our side too.

5.) Thank you to the pt's wife who caught me in the hall and said "hey I know you are super busy, so I emptied his colostomy and it had Xccs in it."

6.) to the tech that I helped transfer a pt from the stretcher to the bed. That was probably the best bath that she had in a LONG time. Thank you for getting everything ready while I and her RN worked on assessing her skin. I appreciate everything you do.

Please add your thoughts. (yes, I am sure to tell my coworkers how much I appreciate them. We generally have a great TEAM.)

[NightOwl0624]

I had a (rather silly) phone interview a few days ago and one of the questions was "do you usually get more work done than your co-workers?"

My answer was, "No, we are usually pretty equal on how much work we do because most of my co-workers and I act as a team and we help each other out when we need it most." I think it's the truth, but not sure if that's what the interviewer wanted to hear!

Thanks to those of my great workers who do work as a team!! You make the nights so much easier and a lot more fun!

[Minnie2006]

There are a group of nurses on my unit who truly work together to accomplish what needs to be done regardless of whether it is their patient. I try to repay the favor whenever I am able. It makes for a much better work environment. Everyone benefits. Feel really fortunate when the family participates in a positive way. Think I would enjoy working beside all of the previous posters here. Keep up the good work there are many who do appreciate it.

[Brea LPN]

Sounds like you have great coworkers! Consider yourself very lucky.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

What a wonderful thread: it reminded me that I have worked with so many more amazing people than bad ones. So THANK YOU OP for the thread! :redbeathe

[Aeterna, BSN, RN]

That sounds awesome. The morale on my floor is very low with a high turnover rate, so we have yet to really feel like a true team.

Still, I'm so so so so grateful...

...to those nurses who don't laugh at my silly questions

...to the nurses who offer to do something for me, like to feed one of my patients or to change a PICC dressing

...the nurses on the previous shifts who think ahead and do things to help me out when I take over (i.e. prime new IV lines)

...to the nurses who give me words of encouragement when I feel overwhelmed and like a failure for feeling so

...to the patients and families who take the time to thank me

...to my co-workers who welcomed me and taught me things about the hospital and the city when I had first moved here all by myself

...to the docs who took the time to explain things to me

...to my former nurse educator who I could always count on for a laugh, even on my worst of days

...OMG the list is too long!

While there are definitely a few people I work with who are not team players, I am truly grateful to all the people who have gotten me here where I am today.

[Mommy&RN, BSN, RN]

I have really enjoyed reading all of the posts!

1. To the unit clerk, THANK YOU for going to the gift shop and getting us the bag of "motivation" (candy).

2. To the pt's wife who came to the desk during shift change and said "I am so glad you are still here, will you come look at something please". Thanks for that trust.

3. To my husband, thank you for driving to the hospital after you had been at work all day during a downpour/tornado warning to pick up my daughter. We normally meet half way, but she decided to hit the snooze button for me. Also, thank you for making sure she gets her homework done and on the school bus on the school nights that I work. (I also really like it when you help her call me, so she can tell me good night and I love you) :heartbeat

4. To my daughter, I know you try to understand why I am not at home some nights, and you try to understand why Mommy has to sleep all day. A special thank you to you, because when you finally told me the alarm was going off, and I asked you to find me a uniform, you did, without complaining! (and it matched) When I asked you to find a hair clip for me, you gave me the one that you had in your hair. :heartbeat

[helicoptergal, BSN, RN]

Thank you to all the posters this post is awesome!!!

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

There are a group of nurses on my unit who truly work together to accomplish what needs to be done regardless of whether it is their patient. I try to repay the favor whenever I am able. It makes for a much better work environment. Everyone benefits. Feel really fortunate when the family participates in a positive way. Think I would enjoy working beside all of the previous posters here. Keep up the good work there are many who do appreciate it.

Minnie, thanks for the kind words. It is nurses like you who make me want to work harder when I am dead on my feet JUST because I know you appreciate it. :redbeathe

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I have really enjoyed reading all of the posts!

1. To the unit clerk, THANK YOU for going to the gift shop and getting us the bag of "motivation" (candy).

2. To the pt's wife who came to the desk during shift change and said "I am so glad you are still here, will you come look at something please". Thanks for that trust.

3. To my husband, thank you for driving to the hospital after you had been at work all day during a downpour/tornado warning to pick up my daughter. We normally meet half way, but she decided to hit the snooze button for me. Also, thank you for making sure she gets her homework done and on the school bus on the school nights that I work. (I also really like it when you help her call me, so she can tell me good night and I love you) :heartbeat

4. To my daughter, I know you try to understand why I am not at home some nights, and you try to understand why Mommy has to sleep all day. A special thank you to you, because when you finally told me the alarm was going off, and I asked you to find me a uniform, you did, without complaining! (and it matched) When I asked you to find a hair clip for me, you gave me the one that you had in your hair. :heartbeat

OK, now this just made me cry. You must have an amazing family, and for that, I am truly happy that you are so blessed. Our jobs are not easy, but when we have been gifted with loved ones such as you have, our job woes seem to recede like the ocean tide. You have a great outlook on life, OP, and I cannot thank you enough for sharing such positive thoughts and experiences. THANK YOU for being a ray of sunshine. I would let you take care of me or mine any day of the week!:redpinkhe

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

That sounds awesome. The morale on my floor is very low with a high turnover rate, so we have yet to really feel like a true team.

Still, I'm so so so so grateful...

...to those nurses who don't laugh at my silly questions

...to the nurses who offer to do something for me, like to feed one of my patients or to change a PICC dressing

...the nurses on the previous shifts who think ahead and do things to help me out when I take over (i.e. prime new IV lines)

...to the nurses who give me words of encouragement when I feel overwhelmed and like a failure for feeling so

...to the patients and families who take the time to thank me

...to my co-workers who welcomed me and taught me things about the hospital and the city when I had first moved here all by myself

...to the docs who took the time to explain things to me

...to my former nurse educator who I could always count on for a laugh, even on my worst of days

...OMG the list is too long!

While there are definitely a few people I work with who are not team players, I am truly grateful to all the people who have gotten me here where I am today.

It is wonderful that you posted your thoughts. I remember all of the things you posted, and that makes me even more grateful to my fellow colleagues.

[Valhalla_Pure]

I love this post. The thoughts from Aeterna especially resonated with me. Our floor has low morale, but we get through the day working as a team. Being a new grad nurse in my first year of practice, this is part of what gets me through my shift. Thank you everyone!