Kindergarten teachers make wonderful patients

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Specializes in OB, Med/Surg, Ortho, ICU.

The title may be self explanatory, but they really are wonderful, if I can make the generalization. Today I was assigned a very busy, very selfish patient that was taking a great deal of my time. I won't go into the details, but I really felt like pulling my hair out. I also had the distinct pleasure of being assigned to care for my Kindergarten teacher, who is now retired. She gave me a big hug whenever I gave her good news and more hugs in appreciation for all I had done for her.

The best part, though, came when I brought her discharge papers. Anyone who uses Meditech knows it is very temperamental. It would not print properly, so I had to hand write her instructions. I apologized to her for the unprofessional look, and she told me, "Oh no, that just makes them more special for me." It almost seemed like I was bringing her dandelions and a picture that I drew her. Who knows? Maybe she hung it up on her fridge when she got home. We could all use one of those nice patients now and then.

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I'm going to share this post with my father-in-law who just started teaching Kindergarten. I'm sure he will agree that they are the best patients ;)

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I love patients like that. I occasionally will get a sweet old lady, appreciative elderly gentleman, or (though rarer), a genuinely thankful younger person who who just makes my day. People tend to recognize quickly the effect that nurses have on their patients. Nurses that the patients perceive as "good nurses" (open to interpretation) can make all the difference to patients who are dealing with difficult circumstances and stressful situations. Sometimes it takes a nurse to explain that the relationship certainly works in reverse as well.

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:heartbeatAwhh!:heartbeat I love your kindergarten teacher! Thanks for a reminder of why we went into this profession.

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