Here's a feel-good post

Published

I am orienting on a hospice floor as a still-pretty-new-grad. The other day, my Coworker & I went in to give a resident a bed bath. This poor guy is in constant pain, even though he has a PCA pump, and it hurts when we move him. He doesn't say anything usually, just moaning & groaning in pain. :(

So, as we are rolling him over to clean his backside, I tell him he can hold my hand & squeeze if he needs to (and boy did he squeeze!) I held his hand the entire time we did the bed bath and kept talking to him to try to distract him from the pain.

The next day, when I went in to check on him, he held my hand, smiled at me & said "hello my angel". I almost cried. That little thing I did the day before, just holding his hand, made a difference. :)

I just had to share. I think it's a good reminder that sometimes something so little can mean so much to someone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Nursing really isn't about the dramatic codes and adrenaline you see on TV... the biggest impact are the little things that mean the most. That someone actually CARES enough to take those few seconds to say I see YOU! and I care.

I was pretty young when I wanted to be a nurse. There was this horrible accident on the highway we were all stopped and the helicopter landed a girl was trapped. Through all the chaos what I noticed the most was that one person who laid by the wreckage and held that outstretched hand talking calmly. I could see the trapped girl nodding her head and smile at the person. I knew it was a nurse as she had RN on the back of her flight suit....while the rest of the team frantically, methodically, cut her free. This nurse held her hand into the chopper. I knew what I wanted that day.

Welcome to nursing! Well done...((HUGS))

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So freakin sweet!!!!!! You're awesome :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Wonderful work, Nurse. :nurse: What a lovely moment--thank you for sharing with us!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Wonderful! It made me a bit teary. Thank you so much for sharing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wonderful

A doctor told me this years ago and it works great. If you want a patient to squeeze your hand/fingers like you did have them squeeze two fingers only. I have yet to figure out why but when they squeeze only two fingers it hardly hurts, but if they squeeze 3 or 4 fingers it can hurt a lot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wonderful

A doctor told me this years ago and it works great. If you want a patient to squeeze your hand/fingers like you did have them squeeze two fingers only. I have yet to figure out why but when they squeeze only two fingers it hardly hurts, but if they squeeze 3 or 4 fingers it can hurt a lot.

I'll have to remember that next time! Some of those little frail patients got a good grip when they're in pain (or mad)!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When my father was sick that's what I looked for. Nurses who care! It's a wonderful feeling for the patient to know that someone is will to go the extra mile to ensure their comfort. Job well done!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for sharing this positive experience! As a prenursing student and new member to these forums I've read mostly dreary or depressing posts :( from people who are unhappy (not that I think nursing is all roses and bubblegum) but thanks again for the daily inspiration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Heartwarming...thanks for sharing :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg.

Those are the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
Nursing really isn't about the dramatic codes and adrenaline you see on TV... the biggest impact are the little things that mean the most. That someone actually CARES enough to take those few seconds to say I see YOU! and I care.

I was pretty young when I wanted to be a nurse. There was this horrible accident on the highway we were all stopped and the helicopter landed a girl was trapped. Through all the chaos what I noticed the most was that one person who laid by the wreckage and held that outstretched hand talking calmly. I could see the trapped girl nodding her head and smile at the person. I knew it was a nurse as she had RN on the back of her flight suit....while the rest of the team frantically, methodically, cut her free. This nurse held her hand into the chopper. I knew what I wanted that

You hear so many "why I want to be/am a nurse" stories, but this one just took the cake for me. I teared up a bit. People go into nursing for so many reasons, but I think some people lose sight of what's important, CARING.

and OP, that's a sweet story too. It really is the little things that matter :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment