In honor of 9/11.... what was it like as a nurse?

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I was on my way home from work, listening to the radio, and everybody is playing things in honor of 9/11.

Today is my birthday. On 9/11, I was getting my drivers license.

I was too young to understand what was happening. And certainly not able to comprehend what it must be like to be there or to have to requires to give patient care during all that. Now, older and a nurse, I wonder how did you do it?

Was anybody on this forum working as a nurse that day? In NY or Washington? Or, even if you weren't there, what did that day mean for the hospital, anywhere in America? It's hard to imagine the world didn't just stand still.

Stories, anybody?

Specializes in CMSRN.

I slept through it all. I just found out I was pregnant and was an emotional wreck when I found out. MY hubby (boyfriend at the time) was at his friends house after working the previous night and I was was already asleep when it happened. I woke up at 5pm and listened to a long message on the phone from my hubby about what happened. (phones were too tied up to get through). I showed up at work and it took awhile to sink in. I worked for a credit card company and took calls for donations during the benefit.

My hubby and I still have our writings from that day. Last time I read it was 2 years ago.

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At the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, they play different kinds of music. However, after September 11, they played this. Makes me tear up every time I see it.

Nerdtonurse, I've never seen that before. Watched it just now (twice) and it gave me chills, goosebumps and brought tears to my eye.

I'm Australian and was just about to go to bed when the coverage came on. We saw the second plane fly into the building and hubby and I stayed up most of the night watching the subsequent events in total disbelief. I remember so clearly seeing that plane hit the building and thinking 'What? What??? That didn't just happen'.

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I wasn't a nurse. During that time I worked for the phone company. That particular day I was off on vacation. It always just brings a deep sadness to my very soul when I think about how all those people got up thinking it would just be another day of work, only to be buried at the site. That is just so heart wrenching....

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.
It always just brings a deep sadness to my very soul when I think about how all those people got up thinking it would just be another day of work, only to be buried at the site. That is just so heart wrenching....

This is pretty much exactly how I feel. Just to think its a normal day, only to be part of something so horrific. I also think about the person that missed the disaster because they stopped to get donuts or forgot their wallet at home or something. Imagine the relief and guilt and sadness those people must have felt. Probably still feel.

Thanks everybody for the stories. They are very touching

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
This is pretty much exactly how I feel. Just to think its a normal day, only to be part of something so horrific. I also think about the person that missed the disaster because they stopped to get donuts or forgot their wallet at home or something. Imagine the relief and guilt and sadness those people must have felt. Probably still feel.

Thanks everybody for the stories. They are very touching

This is going to be morbid, but what about those people who were on the other end of the luck? The ones who weren't supposed to work that day but came in for a meeting or to drop something off, or the ones who got to work earlier than usual?

My friend had been visiting NYC with her parents during Labor Day weekend. On 9/11 she was wearing the WTC t shirt her mom bought her. It was freaky, as she walked down the hall and people stared. I don't think she ever wore it again, except maybe to bed.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
I wasn't a nurse. During that time I worked for the phone company. That particular day I was off on vacation. It always just brings a deep sadness to my very soul when I think about how all those people got up thinking it would just be another day of work, only to be buried at the site. That is just so heart wrenching....

It's sad and it's SCARY.

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Specializes in ER, Pediatric Transplant, PICU.

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This is going to be morbid, but what about those people who were on the other end of the luck? The ones who weren't supposed to work that day but came in for a meeting or to drop something off, or the ones who got to work earlier than usual.

Goodness, I've not even thought about that. Reminds me of the movie Remember Me with the Twilight guy in it. The movie kinda dragged on and on till the end when this young guy goes to meet his dad at his office, but his dad is running late bc he decided to take his very young daughter to school. Then it flashed to the little girl at school, and them writing the date on the board. And your heart sinks, because it shows the son in the WTC.

The son died, dad lived... all bc of a fluke morning.

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