Inspirational words, encouragment needed

[Hispanik RN]

The hospital, my monster as I call it, is a war place. Every day we wake up and we get ready for battle with our uniforms, our tools, our lunches (If we are able to cook), we prepare mentally and physically to start a new day at work, and we are strong. Nurses, CNA's, MD's, etc, etc, we have to be strong, or the different situations that we face on our daily basis will eat our energy, will burn our spirit, will make us believe that we cannot continue anymore.

Probably most of you have been there, done that,and as being part of the same team, being in the same side of the bed, we can encourage our selfs, we can pat our back and say, good job!, You can do it! because we know what it means to be there, in the "battle field". But what happens when the patient is the person giving you those words of power? Let me tell you what happen to me.

I've been a nurse since 2008, started in Mexico and then because of destiny, lucky, or maybe because the universe was aligned in a special way for me, I had the wonderful oportunity to move to the states. And is wonderful, I started with a contract in a well know hospital, I was so thrilled of being recognized as good enough to work in the states. Two years later my contract was over, and there is no way to start another, because legal issues, I mean I can continue working in the states but not in that hospital for now, anyways, another hospital is willing to give a job, don't get me wrong I feel blessed, I am blessed, but leaving my hospital and my team is a hard situation for me.

That day when I received the news , that I needed to move to another hospital in less than a month it was a shock, but I was still at work and the show most go on right?. I couldn't hide I was sad, frustrated and of course about to cry, but I continue working, because I love my job. At this point one of my patient who has been there for almost a month saw my face and this person asked: Whats wrong? I can tell something is wrong. I just smiled and shook my head and I told my patient: Nothing is wrong. Tell me how you feel? are you ok? do you need anything?. My patient said: Yes, I need you to sit here and tell me what's going on with you. So I grab a chair, (it was a slow shift) and i told her what was going on, and then I apologize because I know my patient was going through a bad situation. My patient just smiled and grab my hand and started praying for me. Needless to say I couldn't stop my tears and my patient hugged me, and told me: God only knows why.

Those words have given me the strength to look forward for my new job, of course my family has been there for me as well, but in that very moment, when i was at work, and my patient was there for me, for that very moment I felt so lucky and appreciated, that I was my patient's nurse and she was my patient.

Had one of those moments?

[doodlebuttRN]

Hang in there. We ALL have those moments, like you said, when you have to hold back the tears and keep on smiling and caring for your patients as though your heart wasn't breaking. You sound like you are doing well in the hospital environment, and I am sure you will continue to do so, just at a new place.

I believe that everything happens for a reason...sometimes we just don't know what that reason is until time has passed and we can look back with some distance and perspective at the situation.

Stay strong! You will be fine! After what you have accomplished, this should be small potatoes.

I wish you the best! hugshugshugs!!! ;-)

[doodlebuttRN]

And bless those patients who can see that a nurse is a person too. It seems like your patient helped you, I hope. Remember that this new job may be all you ever wanted and more.

Good Luck!

[exp626]

That's a sweet and sad story. I'm sorry you have to move on. Sometimes it makes us feel better to help others, and maybe the comfort your patient provided you at that moment also gave her something she needed.

You reminded me of something that once happened to me: I worked night shift in a busy ER. I was called to the phone to talk to a physician, and even though I was able to go almost immediately to the phone, he had already hung up and called back again. The ER doc met me as I entered the nurses station and loudly reamed me out for making the doctor on the phone wait. I was so surprised and confused that I didn't say anything as he stood there yelling at me (making the doc on the phone wait even longer). When he eventually stopped yelling at me, I was able to take the call. (I found out later the HUC had first gone looking for the wrong nurse.) This happened very near one of my rooms where parents had their baby daughter on her first birthday. The father came out after hearing all the yelling to check on me and make sure I was okay. Years later, to this day, I'm touched when I recall that.

Good luck with your next job!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

My patients have never given me actual words of encouragement, however after I watch their health struggles, I feel blessed that my problems are pretty darn small compared to theirs, which helps me put things into perspective.

Good luck at your next facility! :)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

((HUGS)) tomorrow is another day.

[kelleytison]

Hi Hispanik RN,

Certainly you know that God works in mysterious ways and sometimes speaks to us through others to help put us back on the right path and restore our inner peace. Isaiah 55:8-9 says "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways". I'm not a nurse (yet) but there have been times when I didn't want to do something, fought tooth and nail for what I wanted, and wept because I couldn't have it only to find out that God had a better plan for me. Its okay to want to stay but sometimes we have to go to grow. Cherish your memories. Be prepared to apply what you've learned to your new setting. Look forward to new challenges, new friends, and new experiences. I know that "all things work together for the good for them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28. I hope that you have a relationship with Him and can find that peace that surpasses all understanding. You're blessed...but certainly you already know that. God's speed.