Wanted to share...

Published Jul 24, 2007

665 Posts

Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

I work in a LTAC facility where our pts stay is usually no less than 3 months. I know most of our pts very well & can just about give report on any one of them even if they're not on my assignment for the day. I know as professionals we're not supposed to get emotionally attached, but sometimes I can't help it. This one pt in particular has touched me in ways I can't describe. She's a well seasoned old school nurse, so she knows what my job is & she knows I'm a new nurse. She's also a very sick vent pt & knows as well as I do that she will probably never go home. I always try to stop in & see her when she's not on my assignment. I ask her if she wants to dance & it always makes her smile! She has a wonderful sense of humor. Anyway, I stopped by a couple days ago to see her. She seemed more depressed than usual. We "chatted" (due to the trach she mouths words) for a minute then she looked out the window...it was raining. I will never forget that moment. Her eyes filled with tears & I knew all she wanted was to feel the rain again. Then she took my hand & looked at me & said, "You did it right the first time." I can't describe how this made me feel, but I will say it took all my inner strength to hold my own tears back. This very sick lady with more nursing knowledge & experience than I can ever hope to have was paying me a compliment. That will live in my heart forever, somehow I made a difference for her...that's why I'm here...that's why I'm a nurse.

P.S.

Hope this makes sense...I'm not real good at expressing myself, but wanted to share this experience.