a nurse's poem-I'm Sorry In Advance

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I'm sorry in advance

Your bed's not made today

But I have a patient here

Whose chest pain won't go away

I'm sorry in advance

You're not happy with your meal

Dietary does try hard sir,

To give it some appeal

I'm sorry in advance

Your morning pills are late

I've a patient climbing out of bed

That I must try to sedate

I'm sorry in advance

Your mattress isn't soft

We do need some new beds ma'am

But these things do cost a lot.

I'm sorry in advance

I didn't get to comb your mother's hair

I've a patient with emphysema

She's scared, she can't get air

I'm sorry in advance

Your fathers still in pain

I'm trying to reach his doctor

I'll have to try again

I'm sorry in advance

Your dressings aren't yet done

But a patient has just passed away,

I offered solace to his son,

I'm sorry in advance

I'm not cheery as a bird

I've worked 12 hours, my feet ache

I asked for help, but no one heard

I'm sorry in advance

I've only two hands and two feet

I'm trying to care for you, patient

Your needs, I want to meet

My 12 hours now are 16,

No replacement could be found

My aching feet they cry out

My head begins to pound

I'm sorry in advance

I cannot meet your gaze

My eyes are filled with tears

Your face is just a haze

If I could sit down for a minute

And maybe grab a bite

Phone my kids to say I love them

And I'll be late again tonight

I'm sorry in advance

I didn't do all that must be done

If I worked any faster

I'd soon begin to run

When I do get to hold your hand

Or wipe your furrowed brow

Please understand, dear patient

I care for you and how

I see your pain, I sense your fear

Your anger in a glance,

Our health care service is failing you

I'm sorry in advance.

Linda Leeson

Licensed Practical Nurse

Vernon Jubilee Hospital

Vernon, British Columbia Canada

Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

As puzzler said, please consent to being published. I would love to submit this to the Pittsburgh newspapers.

I am printing it to take it to work. With your consent, I'll send to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Tribune-Review. Awaiting your reply smile.gif.

You have captured the everyday life of being a nurse. The feelings of despair when you can't give the care that you want to your patients. And you are so exhausted that your family suffers when you are finally at home. Thank you for sharing. I too printed it off and plan to share it with my nursing friends. I hope you allow it to be published. Maybe those who aren't nurses will understand just a little more about what our feelings are on a daily basis. Thanks again

Your poem touched me. It made me cry. I'am not a RN but remember as a nurseing asistant how I couldn't give proper care and felt like why am I here? This should be in the letters to the editor section of every newspaper in the country.

Hello,

What a moving poem! Thank you very much, it truely does sum up the frustrations we all face each day! Where I work it has been really, really short. It was great to see this poem today when I came home feeling just this way! Thank-you Linda!

Specializes in Home Health.

EXCELLENT!!! I hope you don't mind if I cut and paste this onto 2 other BB's? Your name will be there! I so wish I could write poetry like that!!!! WONDERFUL!!!! What a gift you have!

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

I've sent it to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

You will be credited as the author.

Those of us that work with Linda agree it's a great poem. For those of you that don't know Linda you don't know what your missing. She is not only a great nurse (even with the cap Ha Ha) but a great comedian (whoopie cushion queen), entertainer (yah Ulga) and friend. She always has a bag of goodies that benefit the patients which shows where her love is. We are blessed with many laughs from Linda which is our survival in the health care system these days. My condolances to those of you that don't know Linda personally. She's a great friend

Linda,

What an absolutely beautiful way to express every nurses feelings day in and day out. God has blessed you with many gifts,the gift of being able to take care of the sick, the gift of writing poetry, and the gift to be able to bring joy not only to your patients, but to your fellow workers. How fortunate to have you on Vernon Jubilee Hospital Staff! Thank you for sharing with all of us. I will certainly print copies out and hang them throughout my facility. Have a wonderful day!

Specializes in CV-ICU.

Linda, PLEASE give us permission to print this and publish it in nursing newsletters, etc. This is so true and strikes a chord in all of our hearts. Thank you for sharing it wath us; let us share it with the rest of the world.

Specializes in ER, PACU, OR.

Wow! That certainly says it all!!!

Rick

Linda, truer words could not be spoken! This truely captures what each and everyone of us of us feel and try to deal with on a day to day basis, I hope you do not mind I would like to post this poem in our nursing lounge for all to share and reflect on,thankyou.

This poem is so true. All of us in the nursing field can find ourselves within. It was also well written.

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Blessed Be

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