Families

Published

Dear Families,

I am the nurse that cares for your loved one every day. I make sure that your loved one is safe and well-fed, all medications given, blood sugar checked, skin assessment done. I give your loved one hugs and smiles every day, always treating them as I would treat my own family member. I tuck them in at night and peak in on them while they are sleeping to make sure they are ok. I greet them with a smile and a kind word when they wake up. I note if they are having any pain or discomfort and treat them accordingly. I dress their wounds with the upmost care and gentleness as if it were my own wound. I hold their hand when they cry and I offer companionship when they are lonely.

Please, instead of lashing out at me because you're feeling angry or guilty or scared or frustrated, talk to me and tell me your concerns in a respectful manner. Recognize that I am not the enemy, I did not make your loved one sick, and I am not neglectful. Instead of venting your anger on me, why not thank me for taking such good care of your loved one when you are not able to? I see your loved one every single day, I am intuned with what is going on with them, and I do my very best. A Thank You would be most appreciated, instead of harsh words and criticisms. I am only human, after all, and might make a mistake sometimes. But you can rest assured that I have your loved ones best intentions at heart 100% of the time.

A Thank You, a word of appreciation, a token of gratefulness, or a kind word would make all the difference in the world to this hard working nurse. Maybe you can learn to show compassion as I have shown your loved one compassion and recognize that hurtful words aimed at the very one who cares for your loved one do nothing to make your loved one better. I am on the front lines every day because I care.

Sincerely,

LTC Nurse

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

This needs to be printed and placed in every LTC, and every hospital waiting room.

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This needs to be printed and placed in every LTC, and every hospital waiting room.

:w00t::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat::yeahthat:

:bowingpur:yeah:

It definitely does. I have even thought about printing out stuff and leaving it in waiting rooms.

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Specializes in LTC, Medicare visits.

Amen, I will be taking this to work in the am for my co-workers. It reminds me of why we do want we do. Many years back, I had a wife of a resident start yelling at the nurses station during am report. " Why is my husband naked, every day I come he's naked" " What is wrong with YOU people, he's in bed naked".

This man had been a resident for about 1 month with dementia, and he was a Harry Houdini. His wife brought him pajamas( top and bottoms), the night shift was redressing him about 6 times a night. Short of tying the bedsheet to the rails- we had a rough time keeping clothes on him in bed.

I took the wife away from the nurses station and explained I knew she was upset and we were trying everything possible, and would continue. Then it dawned on me- I asked her how he slept at home. Her reply " He never wore clothes to bed in the 62 years we've been married"!

Old habits die hard, even harder to retrain an 85 year old with dementia.

Well, we still had a fun time keeping him dressed.

:wink2:

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

this needs to be printed in every admission pack and signed by the family during signing admit paperwork. they could stand a reminder so lets have them sign it quarterly as well.....

this needs to be printed and placed in every ltc, and every hospital waiting room.
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this needs to be printed in every admission pack and signed by the family during signing admit paperwork. they could stand a reminder so lets have them sign it quarterly as well.....

with some of the families i have heard about here, it might even be a good idea to tattoo on some foreheads, where they can read it every time they look in the mirror.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Dear Families,

I am the nurse that cares for your loved one every day. I make sure that your loved one is safe and well-fed, all medications given, blood sugar checked, skin assessment done. I give your loved one hugs and smiles every day, always treating them as I would treat my own family member. I tuck them in at night and peak in on them while they are sleeping to make sure they are ok. I greet them with a smile and a kind word when they wake up. I note if they are having any pain or discomfort and treat them accordingly. I dress their wounds with the upmost care and gentleness as if it were my own wound. I hold their hand when they cry and I offer companionship when they are lonely.

Please, instead of lashing out at me because you're feeling angry or guilty or scared or frustrated, talk to me and tell me your concerns in a respectful manner. Recognize that I am not the enemy, I did not make your loved one sick, and I am not neglectful. Instead of venting your anger on me, why not thank me for taking such good care of your loved one when you are not able to? I see your loved one every single day, I am intuned with what is going on with them, and I do my very best. A Thank You would be most appreciated, instead of harsh words and criticisms. I am only human, after all, and might make a mistake sometimes. But you can rest assured that I have your loved ones best intentions at heart 100% of the time.

A Thank You, a word of appreciation, a token of gratefulness, or a kind word would make all the difference in the world to this hard working nurse. Maybe you can learn to show compassion as I have shown your loved one compassion and recognize that hurtful words aimed at the very one who cares for your loved one do nothing to make your loved one better. I am on the front lines every day because I care.

Sincerely,

LTC Nurse

Been there as a nurse and I know where you are coming from - and thank you because I or my parents will be under your loving care someday!

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.
With some of the families I have heard about here, it might even be a good idea to tattoo on some foreheads, where they can read it every time they look in the mirror.

Can we find a Prozac/Ativan?Dose of reality patch that's required for all family members upon their loved-ones admission?? We do have a few wonderful family members, but the internet-educated ones with the 94 y.o. demented grandma who want to know why she's not "getting better" are the ones that drive me to drink (literally)...oh, and the ones that think that everyone gets 100 days of Medicare Part A coverage.....but that's another issue.

To theo OP.....WONDERFUL note.....I'm also going to print it out and take it to work in the morning.:yeah:

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