It finally happened to me..

Published

Every day that I drive to and from work I take a particular commuter road I like to call the Redneck Raceway. You can bet there is a daily accident that backs traffic up for miles. Driving on this road is dangerous. I always told my spouse "one of these days someone on a cell phone/curling their hair/popping their pimples is going to cream me..I just know it!"

Well it finally happened. A few days before Christmas I was put right in the middle of a 6 car pile up. The engine to my car was nearly in the cab and I was briefly knocked unconscious. Somehow I managed to climb out of my car and run to the side of the road to avoid being hit again. Panic, fear, pain, all kinds of emotions start flowing as I think about the fact I was nearly decapitated. In the middle of my panic attack someone walks up to me, a woman, mid forties. She gives me the biggest, most sincere hug I have ever felt. A sense of calmness came over me. She says "I'm a nurse. You are going to be ok." I have never felt more relieved.

She hugged me for what seemed like an eternity. That was ok with me because it meant I didn't have to watch the ensuing chaos around me. I felt guarded, protected. How did she know I needed this consolation more than I needed oxygen? This nurse had been a few cars back and had witnessed the accident. The next person behind her, an ER physician. Someone was certainly watching over me. I have always been the person to stop and offer assistance to those that might be scared or injured, even before I became a nurse.

After reading a few posts on here I often contemplated NOT stopping for reasons we have all mulled over. After my experience I will without any doubt, always stop and offer hugs... and CPR. I want to encourage my colleagues to do the same. It is amazing how something as simple as a hug can be so powerful. I am forever thankful for that nurse. I often think about her when I'm driving to work on the RR and start to feel anxious. I just wish I knew her name so I could thank her.

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

I'm glad you're OK, and yes, how powerful can the 'smallest' things be in certain situations. You just reminded me of one of a great experience I had, which was a 'small' thing too, yet *at the time*, it wasn't small at all. I was about to have surgery, was stressed out, and a wonderful nurse from New Zealand (this was in the US, though) took my hand shortly before the anesthesiologist knocked me out, and she just said 'we're going to take good care of you'. It made all the difference to me.

This is an inspiring and touching story. It renews your belief in humanity.

Good Nurses are good nurses and I think that will always surface whenever and wherever they are!I'm just so glad that I am in the caring profession as I am always given the opportunity to touch people's lives. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and happy that you're okay even after the accident=)

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I suffered a concussion from the air bag and whiplash. It is my third concussion is 8 years so you can say I'm a pro at recovery :wacky:

Specializes in Med/Surg,Cardiac.

Your story was so touching. :-)

~ No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent -Eleanor Roosevelt ~

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