Please share something GOOD that happened at work!

[RNsRWe]

Maybe as a tag-along to the thread that has people in a twist over whether or not nurses are being positive enough, or too negative, or whatever, we could try for something a little upbeat.

What has happened to you (or someone else?) at work that made you GLAD that you were there that day? Did you feel you made a difference?

I recently had a patient who had diverticulitis and was facing a bowel resection and somehow no one had either explained to him what to expect or he hadn't been able to hear it. At any rate, when I got him he was scared to death what was going to happen to him, whether he'd be able to eat/poop normally again. Somehow he got the idea he'd need a colostomy, and that freaked him out unnecessarily.

I spent all of fifteen minutes with him initially and watched this fella change from freaked out to calm, once he realized the why's and wherefore's. I then checked on him and let him talk when he needed. I got him after surgery, too, and while most of the time people never even give a cursory "thank you", this man made me feel like a million bucks! He thanked me for taking the time to talk to him and apologized for being "a baby". Oh, man, he wasn't a baby at all, just a human being who needed another human (who happened to have a medical clue) to calm him down.

I felt proud to be a nurse when I left for a couple of days :)

[spiceyqueen]

3 things have actually made my week really special.

1)a patient who has been in our ward for like 4 weeks with receptive/expressive dysphasia has called me by my name for two days in a row!!!!!! i feel goood!!!!!!!

2)one of our patients(when admitted looked like the definition of death), has stepped up to a rehabilitation ward.....one of our greater success stories

3) had my first In Charge shift (well out of circumstance more than chioce) with two new graduates and an Agency nurse(she was pretty good!!!!). and my N.U.M. told me that she didnt think i would be that good, handled admissions, transffers, problems, delegating work with no probz, and had my own patient load as well....geez, didnt even know i had it in me to do that!!!i must admit i was a bit overwhelmed at first but i told myself, if it went well, i think coz the other three are very good in their work too...

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I love this thread, and hearing these stories...Here is my story so far:

I transferred to CCU/OHU a couple of months ago- best thing I ever did. After almost 10 years in trauma, it is definitely a change! I was worried that I would have an especially difficult transition, because it is so different. Thank goodness I fit in there, and am doing fine in my orientation. I have been thanked by every patient I've had there so far, and get good feedback from everybody. When you think about it, these patients must feel like they've gotten a new lease on life after their surgery, and I'm grateful to be a part of that. So, here's my list so far:

1.) I am learning all kinds of neat ICU stuff that I have always wanted to learn. We pull chest tubes, do CVVH, IAPB, etc. I have come to love A-Lines and SWANs...lol.

2.) I got late-started today, and get to take my first fresh heart (with my preceptor, of course). It feels good that the team wants me to learn how to take fresh hearts, because not everybody on my unit does it, and some have to wait a year or 2 before they start. I'm a little intimidated, but excited to learn about it.

3.) I am working with an exceptionally good team of people. They back each other up, stand up for what is right, and know their stuff.

4.) I got a pat on the back and a thank you from a doc the other day for noticing a patient change, and calling for orders. She actually called back later to say "Thank you for catching that early and saving the patient from further problems. That was a good call on your part." That made my day.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

well, i'm certainly guilty of perpetuating the negative threads! so here goes:

i learned something new and totally useful from a student nurse today, and when i told him that, it made his day! and later, his instructor sought me out and thanked me for 1) making his day and 2) the positive feedback.

i got a fabulous compliment from my patient -- totally unrelated to my nursing care, but appreciated all the same. i work in an adult unit, and had an 18 year old patient. i was dreading it like crazy because i work in an adult unit and 18 year olds are still adolescents. this kid was the nicest kid! pleasant, cooperative, grateful! his mother was wonderful, too. he told me something about "when you're as old as my mother". (i'm at least 10 years older than her!)

i was able to teach something to a co-worker. something that provided an "aha!" moment, and made other bits and pieces slide into place.

[BJLynn]

I went into give a resident a depo shot in her room. She was in bed. This particular resident can not move herself in bed due to neuro/muscular condition. I proceed to give her her shot, and I ask her if she needs anything. She needed moved around. So I proceed to move her and arrange all of her pillows for her. Then I tucked her in and said goodnight. The next day, the social services director handed me a card that this resident had painstakenly written out for me (part was written for her) thanking me for my kindness the night before.

Made me feel all warm and tingly inside.

[Jokerhill]

Well I just have to add mine here. I was on my way into work from the parking lot and see a car parked in the pick up zone. I the see one of our nurses look into the back of the car and run back into the hospital. Well being me I had to check it out, and there he was a baby coming out to play. The father was leaning into the back seat but made room for me. Well I could not stop there so another contraction and all that was left in were the feet. No one was there but us yet and I hoped the other nurse went for help and supplies. I then had dad pinch the cord, and I stimulated the baby getting a cry. After that a delivery team arrived but I was already so involved and stimulated myself, I just barked out instructions for the DR. to give me some clamps and sizers, clamped and cut the cord, and wrapped him in blankets. When I handed the baby out about 40-50 people and workers had gathered around and clapped. I forgot about the mom at that point and saw the Dr. getting her up out of the car, so I went back in and helped her out. I go on high risk deliveries as part of my job in the NICU so I knew what to do, just never delivered one on my own before. The baby was great went home the next day. I am glad help came out though as I was about to dry the baby with my scrub top. I don't know how or who did it but there were people holding up blankets for privacy and we got the supplies we needed out there and it all worked like as if we had practiced it, but I know I never practiced that before.

[muffie, RN]

nobody died on my watch !

[muffie, RN]

Well I just have to add mine here. I was on my way into work from the parking lot and see a car parked in the pick up zone. I the see one of our nurses look into the back of the car and run back into the hospital. Well being me I had to check it out, and there he was a baby coming out to play. The father was leaning into the back seat but made room for me. Well I could not stop there so another contraction and all that was left in were the feet. No one was there but us yet and I hoped the other nurse went for help and supplies. I then had dad pinch the cord, and I stimulated the baby getting a cry. After that a delivery team arrived but I was already so involved and stimulated myself, I just barked out instructions for the DR. to give me some clamps and sizers, clamped and cut the cord, and wrapped him in blankets. When I handed the baby out about 40-50 people and workers had gathered around and clapped. I forgot about the mom at that point and saw the Dr. getting her up out of the car, so I went back in and helped her out. I go on high risk deliveries as part of my job in the NICU so I knew what to do, just never delivered one on my own before. The baby was great went home the next day. I am glad help came out though as I was about to dry the baby with my scrub top. I don't know how or who did it but there were people holding up blankets for privacy and we got the supplies we needed out there and it all worked like as if we had practiced it, but I know I never practiced that before.

very cool story

[muffie, RN]

poopoocaca

double post

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

Not long ago we had a pt on the floor who was just there for end of life care. The daughter was there every moment that she could and turned out to be a great lady (thought she was going to be a very intrusive family member at first). I had her as a patient for a full weekend and on the days I didn't have her I would ask the daughter how she was doing and give the occasional hug if I saw tears in her eyes.

She wrote a letter (a pretty lengthy one at that) to the hospital which my manager read out loud at a staff meeting. She praised us up one way and down another. I had never gotten so much of a thank you even though it didn't name me in person or anything. There weere too many of us to name from her veiw point. I was very proud!

[emmycRN]

I had a family member tell me the other day that when she found out I was working the night shift she said a quick prayer that I would be taking care of her son that night. This was at the beginning of my shift and it absolutely made my night. She also told me that after the last night I had taken care of her son, her husband had commented on how "unflappable" and competent I was. This was when the pt was having serious problems and had to be rushed to CT. Her comments amazed me because that night I was so anxious that I was literally shaking. I guess it pays off to act like you know everything will be OK even when you are freaking out yourself.

[emmycRN]

I got report on an 87 year old man admitted with CHF. I was told in report "He is difficult and very grumpy". I walked in his room and introduced myself and proceeded to do his assessment. At first he was rather abrupt with me. He just seemed very sad to me when I was talking with him. I continued to do his assessment and started talking with him. Then I kind of made a little joke about the hospital food and he joked right back! We kept joking back and forth for a few minutes and he started laughing and telling me stories.

I checked back on him several times throughout my shift. I never did anything extra special, just did the things that us nurses do to try and keep our patients as comfortable as possible.

When I got ready to leave my shift, I went in for my last minute checks and told him I was leaving. He told me "I just want to thank you for being so kind to me. You took time to talk to me and you made me laugh, that is something I haven't done in 2 years now, every since my wife passed away I haven't smiled let alone laugh." Then he said "You know you just kind of restored my faith in you kids. Usually you kids don't have time to fool with old geezers like me." Now when he said that, I got my biggest laugh, cause this kid is 47 years old! I smiled all day thinking that he had called me a kid!

cute cute cute!!! :heartbeat

[Gromit]

Well I just have to add mine here. I was on my way into work from the parking lot and see a car parked in the pick up zone. I the see one of our nurses look into the back of the car and run back into the hospital. Well being me I had to check it out, and there he was a baby coming out to play. The father was leaning into the back seat but made room for me. Well I could not stop there so another contraction and all that was left in were the feet. No one was there but us yet and I hoped the other nurse went for help and supplies. I then had dad pinch the cord, and I stimulated the baby getting a cry. After that a delivery team arrived but I was already so involved and stimulated myself, I just barked out instructions for the DR. to give me some clamps and sizers, clamped and cut the cord, and wrapped him in blankets. When I handed the baby out about 40-50 people and workers had gathered around and clapped. I forgot about the mom at that point and saw the Dr. getting her up out of the car, so I went back in and helped her out. I go on high risk deliveries as part of my job in the NICU so I knew what to do, just never delivered one on my own before. The baby was great went home the next day. I am glad help came out though as I was about to dry the baby with my scrub top. I don't know how or who did it but there were people holding up blankets for privacy and we got the supplies we needed out there and it all worked like as if we had practiced it, but I know I never practiced that before.

THAT IS SO COOL!