hey guys, I found this note sitting on my med cart when I went into work the other night.....
if you think your actions do not have an affect I'm gonna share this with you to show you that they do, what we do matters a heck of a lot , and for every thank you note someone gets there are tons more that people probably just never got around to writing. You change lives for the better and we need you around! here goes
its a card with the a picture of sunflowers on it, the caption says "sunflowers know that the key to happiness is to have a little sunshine on your face" and I quote:
"Dear wendy, thank you so very much for your attentiveness to my father (name of patient) in the short time he was under your care. You are really a compassionate person and you gave my father his dignity in his last days. I will always remember your gentle reassuring voice to me and my family and your note to our family on the evening of my fathers passing meant a lot to us. May you merit in long life, happiness and health
fondly
(pts daughter)
incase youre ever in doubt ,what you do matters to so very many people, remember it !
Nov 21, '02
Nicely put!
Cheers!
Ted
Nov 21, '02
Damn, I go home and cry when i get notes like that! Makes all the crap we have to put up worthwhile, if only for a moment.
Nov 21, '02
I still have a couple of notes from when I was 18 and working as an aide..they really do mean a lot!
Nov 21, '02
I must be a bytch cause in over 5 years as an RN and 4 as an aide, I aint never gotten any note. Oh well. I go home knowing that I did a good job and that's all that matters to me.
Nov 21, '02
its not the notes that matter
its the sentiment within
sure they may not have written it down on pretty little paper , or given you a token of their appreciation , but they felt it ...
I would gladly give up the pretty cards or little trinkets or boxes of chocolates that end up on our unit all the time for just hearing and believing that I have made a difference in someones life..
thats the point
and we all do just that, you have changed someones (if not many someones)life for the better
that is why when all the challenges we face , all the obstacles hurled in our path, all the ungrateful behaviour we are exposed to we are able to see past it , get over it ,and leave our workplace knowing that despite not having the resources we need, we did the very best thing we could have done for the people under our care...
Nov 21, '02
Wendy - your patients and co-workers are lucky to have you!!
Nov 21, '02
It is so nice to get positive feedback isn't it?
p.s. I was dying to hear Landslide yesterday and dug it out of my CD collection. It has always spoken to me. Then to read it on you addy is strange. I adore Stevie Nicks.
Nov 21, '02
Thanks for sharing, Wendy!
Nurses don't often get positive feedback, but you are very right- so many times even the small things we do makes a difference to our patients and their families, and we just don't realize it.
And yes, as traumaRUS said- your patients and co-workers are lucky to have you!
Nov 21, '02
I look forward to finishing school and caring for patients. After all the neg. feedback I get from my nurse "friends" around here this post was REALLY nice to see!!
Nov 21, '02
Damn Wendy, you are awesome. I have no doubt that note was just what Dr. Phil (love or hate him)would say is : TELLING IT LIKE IT IS.....I am always encouraged when working w/nurses like you. Doesn't it feel great.....I have had similar notes, one of which arrived in the mail to me, just as I was about to give up my nursing position. I was unhappy and felt like I was effecting NOTHING. in the way of positivity or change.......that one little card changed my mind. WE have NO idea the effect we have on patients and their families....and when reminded, we are so quick to deny it. But, It means so much to hear this.....you can't put a price tag on it. Thank you for sharing that. You are truly a gem.
Nov 21, '02
Thank you so-oooo much for sharing your note and thoughts! As a student nurse it has ment more to me than you can ever know! We are hearing far to much negative stuff about nursing, hope more will share some of the positive--- you have tons of students peeping in here, most trying to figure out if they are really doing the right thing in becoming a nurse, we're scared, stressed because of school and really need to hear more from positive ones like yourself!!! THANK YOU!!!!!
Nov 21, '02
What a nice note Wendy!
Things like that seem to happen just when you think you're getting burnt out, that you can't take just one more thing. And then you're suddenly refreshed, feeling like you make a difference!
Heather
Nov 21, '02Occupation: nursing Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 155; Likes: 20Damn, I go home and cry when i get notes like that! Makes all the crap we have to put up worthwhile, if only for a moment.
Nov 21, '02Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 2,730; Likes: 602I must be a bytch cause in over 5 years as an RN and 4 as an aide, I aint never gotten any note. Oh well. I go home knowing that I did a good job and that's all that matters to me.
Nov 21, '02Occupation: allnurses Asst Community Manager, APRN Specialty: 25 year(s) of experience in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU ; From: US ; Joined: Apr '00; Posts: 53,369; Likes: 26,202Wendy - your patients and co-workers are lucky to have you!!
Nov 21, '02Joined: Oct '02; Posts: 60,387; Likes: 16,574It is so nice to get positive feedback isn't it?
Nov 21, '02Occupation: RN Specialty: med/surg & geriatrics ; Joined: Sep '02; Posts: 208I look forward to finishing school and caring for patients. After all the neg. feedback I get from my nurse "friends" around here this post was REALLY nice to see!!
Nov 21, '02Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,756; Likes: 16,288Damn Wendy, you are awesome. I have no doubt that note was just what Dr. Phil (love or hate him)would say is : TELLING IT LIKE IT IS.....I am always encouraged when working w/nurses like you. Doesn't it feel great.....I have had similar notes, one of which arrived in the mail to me, just as I was about to give up my nursing position. I was unhappy and felt like I was effecting NOTHING. in the way of positivity or change.......that one little card changed my mind. WE have NO idea the effect we have on patients and their families....and when reminded, we are so quick to deny it. But, It means so much to hear this.....you can't put a price tag on it. Thank you for sharing that. You are truly a gem.
