Listen, Nurse

[panda_181]

I am going into 4th year nursing, and this was in one of our labs in first year. I love this thing, it really makes you think about how you are caring for your patients. In the rush of everything, would one minute really kill us?

Listen, Nurse

I was hungry and could not feed myself. You left my food tray out of reach on my bedside table, then you discussed my nutritional needs in a nursing conference.

I was thirsty and helpless, but you forgot to ask the attendant to refill my water pitcher. You later charted that I refused liquids.

I was in financial difficulties and in your mind I became an object of annoyance.

I was a nursing problem and you discussed the theoretical basis of my illness. And you did not even see me.

I was thought to be dying and, thinking I could not hear, you said you hoped I would not die before it was time to finish for your day because you had an appointment at the beauty parlor before your evening date.

You seem so well educated, well spoken, and so very neat in your spotless unwrinkled uniform. But when I speak, you seem to listen but do not hear me.

Help me, care about what happens to me, I am so tired, so lonely, and so very afraid. Talk to me - reach out to me - take my hand. Let what happens to me matter to you.

Please, nurse, listen.

---Roth Johnston, RN

Let me know what you think!

Amanda :)

[fiestynurse]

I was initially offended by the "Listen Nurse" poem, but then I realized that it was posted by a student nurse and I have no idea who the author, Roth Johnston, is? The poem does not seem based on reality and could not have been written by a nurse who has been at the bedside within the last ten years.

[Mijourney]

Hi. It was not my intention to be condenscending toward panda for posting that very pertinent poem. If the poem is written by a family member or patient, it's not my intention to belittle their point either. However, we nurses are not only responsible for providing the best care we can to our patients and families, but we also are responsible for providing them with a greater understanding of how changes in our economy and the health care industry impact what we do for them. They must understand what hurdles that nurses who work toward excellence in providing patient care go through. As the previous poster wrote, I have been a patient too, and I have expressed concerns on occasion about care that I've gotten or didn't get. For me, that poem was, in some respects, like preaching to the choir. Yes, I will acknowledge that some of us need to read it, because we may have become mechanical in how we care for our patients. But, this is what nurse activism is about. Doing what we can to become experts at providing quality patient care, directly or indirectly and actively promoting our profession outside of our work.

Panda, thanks for bringing this issue to our attention.

[bobbiesal]

I've read all of the postings in this thread...& I'm truly saddened by what I've read. I've been a nurse for 15 years, & I still feel the same way about patients that I did as a new grad. Idealistic? Perhaps, but this poem illustrates why I became a nurse-to care for patients. Do I work hard? Yes, I do. Am I overwhelmed at times? Yes, I am. Are there not enough hours in the day? Occasionally. But the intrinsic reward of nursing remains the feeling of peace and well-being we can offer our patients & their families. I worked ICU for 9 years, home health care during that time, while I was earning my BSN, then my MSN. As a nurse practitioner and supervisor of a neurology clinic now, I never hesitate to help the clinical assistants in my department so they can get their breaks and offer their best to our patients. My 17 year old son is a nursing assistant on a busy orthopedic floor, and he cannot understand why everyone is always grousing about "how busy" they are, he never hesitates to help a patient, even if it is not"his." BTW, he cannot wait to go to nursing school. Bottom line all of you-caring is our business, if this is not making you happy, then really, you should find a new career, or a different path in nursing that does not involve patient care.

[kurtz]

Listen "Client"

I was hungry and could not feed myself. But I could not take my breaks because you only complain to me, never to the people in authority, then you discussed the demise of my profession with your friends.

I was thirsty and helpless, but you forgot to ask the people in authority to get more staff so that I could get a drink. You later wrote a letter of complaint about me instead of staffing shortages, because I was "lazy" in your eyes.

I was in financial difficulties but you didn't care because "nursing is a calling" so why should I get paid enough to support my family?

I was the problem in your eyes. You did not bother to take the time to see the problem of "big business health care"..

I hurt my back lifting you and thought I was never going to be able to work again, thinking I could not hear, you said you hoped I wound up in the same ward because you would like to see me suffer the treatment you had, had. You never thought I might be distressed, not just by my own pain but yours as well.

You seem so well educated, well spoken, and lovely in your new pyjamas. But when you see me, you seem to think I only have you to care for, that there are not seven other patients under my care just like you.

You seem so ill, and lacking in dignity. But when I speak, you abuse me with vigour. I smile and take it and go home late to a family who cannot understand.

You worry about me getting you to the toilet in time, but I am yet to change my incontinence pad that I have to wear because of the years that I have worked without time to use the toilet.

You worry that you may be dying, you think I should have time to hold your hand, so do I. But what do you do? You blame me for my not being able to do my job the way I (and you) would like.

Help me, help yourself. Care about the staffing levels in this hospital. I am so tired, so lonely. Talk to them - reach out to them - take their hands and drag them into the wards to see what is happening here. Let what happens to you matter to you and complain to the right people. Not me.

You become angry with me because sometimes I can be heard laughing at the nurses desk. But I was only laughing because I had been insulted (yet again) by one of the medical staff. If I didn't laugh I would cry. I would cry buckets.

I loved my job. I wanted to do it because I care. I really do. I love to hold those frail hands and talk to my patients I have done it for years now. But with your unseeing eyes you say I am callous and too busy with my own life to care about you. You could not be more wrong.

I am sick of the abuse. Abuse from you, abuse from the medical and other staff, abuse from the faceless people in authority. I will go and work at K-Mart where I get paid the same amount and have less stress. And you? You will complain to your friends about how "nurses aren't what they used to be".

Please, "client", listen and look, and sit up and THINK!!!!!

[kurtz]

I hear what you are saying. Perhaps as an adminstrator you have allowed enough staff to staff your ward. Although that would seem unlikely as you relieve the staff so that they can take breaks. This seems to indicate that you go without your breaks so that your staff can. This does not seem fair either.

You son is a nursing assistant as such he does not do the work required of a fully qualified nurse on his ward. He only does a small part of it. I can remember during my training thinking, "what are they all whining about?, it doesn't seem that busy to me". Little did I know how much work these people were doing while my back was turned.

I think you are wrong. Sure I am at the other side of the world (in Australia) but it seems to me that things are the same here as they are in America. Very bad.

[joyskiana]

THE POEM IS JUST THAT... SOMETHING TO READ. REALISTICALLY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU MEET YOURSELF COMING AND GOING. THE OTHER EVENING, WE HAD 1 NURSE AND 1 CNA FOR 23 PATIENTS. WHILE EVERYTHING WAS NOT DONE IN THE MOST TIMELY AND ORGANIZED MANNER, WE DID STILL MANAGE TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.

MANAGEMENT IS A PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US. THEY HAVE JUST ADDED 5 NEW BEDS TO OUR ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED UNIT. THE MONEY SPENT ON RENOVATION WOULD BE BETTER SPENT ON KEEPING/GETTING HELP!

IT IS ALWAYS A RULE TOO ME, IF SOMEONE IS DYING, THEY COMMAND MY UPMOST RESPECT. I TREAT THEM WITH THE DIGNITY I WOULD TREAT MY OWN FATHER. THAT MEANS I DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN THEN SHOULD DIE.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME PUT MY 2 CENTS IN!

[frustratedRN]

i still think that poem sucks...

[monkijr]

Originally posted by panda_181

I am going into 4th year nursing, and this was in one of our labs in first year. I love this thing, it really makes you think about how you are caring for your patients. In the rush of everything, would one minute really kill us?

Listen, Nurse

I was hungry and could not feed myself. You left my food tray out of reach on my bedside table, then you discussed my nutritional needs in a nursing conference.

I was thirsty and helpless, but you forgot to ask the attendant to refill my water pitcher. You later charted that I refused liquids.

I was in financial difficulties and in your mind I became an object of annoyance.

I was a nursing problem and you discussed the theoretical basis of my illness. And you did not even see me.

I was thought to be dying and, thinking I could not hear, you said you hoped I would not die before it was time to finish for your day because you had an appointment at the beauty parlor before your evening date.

You seem so well educated, well spoken, and so very neat in your spotless unwrinkled uniform. But when I speak, you seem to listen but do not hear me.

Help me, care about what happens to me, I am so tired, so lonely, and so very afraid. Talk to me - reach out to me - take my hand. Let what happens to me matter to you.

Please, nurse, listen.

---Roth Johnston, RN

Let me know what you think!

Amanda :)

Listen, Patient

I know you are hungry and cannot feed yourself. I will assist you as soon as I finish suctioning this trach in the room next door and getting a pain shot for your roomate. I did not know that dietary left your food tray out of reach. I am sorry, thank-you for being so patient.

The doctor wanted me to push fluids, but my nursing assistant called in sick and I haven't had time to refill the water pitchers, yet. I would get written-up if I tell you just how short staffed we are today. I will get to it as soon as I can, I promise.

I hear that you are having financial difficulties, but they just eliminated several social worker positions and we have no financial consultant at this facility. I will try to find out what other resources are out there to help you.

I am a well educated, well spoken nurse, but when I speak nobody seems to listen. You would rather wait and see what the doctor has to say.

Another of my patients died today. No family was present. I stayed to hold her hand, so she wouldn't have to die alone. I want to cry, but I have to get home to my kids and get dinner on the table.

I hope you don't mind my wrinkled scrubs or the fact that I haven't been to a beauty parlor in months, but I had to work another double shift last night.

I want to help you and take care of you, but sometimes I am tired, lonely, and afraid of what is happening to our healthcare system. Caring for you is the reason I became a nurse, but it is getting hard. I hope you understand.

RN

[SmilingBluEyes]

BEAUTIFUL URSULA>.and oh so real.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

How depressing. I believe where there is a will, there is a way.

I speak from experience..not necessarily in nursing, but other life experiences. Surely nursing is cannot be worse than things I've experienced and come through. How long does a smile and a wink take, or a pat on the hand? Even "fluffing" that pillow..how long, truly? How much "time" is involved in placing the callbell within reach, or seeing to it that a pt.'s food is within reach? How long does it take to not "talk over" a pt. or to wish them well or comment to their family on their progress ? It's these LITTLE things the above poem addresses. If we can at least do these LITTLE things, we have made someone's day brighter.

I, too, am saddened that nursing has regressed to "assembly line pt. care", but I still believe with all my being that where there is a will there IS a way ! Perhaps not the big ticket items, but most people will happily settle for a smile, a touch, an occasional tucking the blanket around them , and a lot of little things we think we don't have time for, when in all reality, they take no time at all.

Doing for others does not reduce me to an "idealist" or a dreamer.

Doing is MAKING IT HAPPEN. By DOING I am also caring for myself and my emotional wellbeing. I can go home feeling good about myself AND my pt. ...and not have to stress about all I am not able to accomplish. The focus of the poem/letter is the LITTLE THINGS. I KNOW I can do at least those. Let's not miss the forest for the trees.

[monkijr]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

BEAUTIFUL URSULA>.and oh so real.

Smiling blue eyes, sorry can't take the credit for that, found it in an old post, and just brought it up to current, thought it may have been missed by some.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Said by JNette

How depressing. I believe where there is a will, there is a way.

I speak from experience..not necessarily in nursing, but other life experiences. Surely nursing is cannot be worse than things I've experienced and come through. How long does a smile and a wink take, or a pat on the hand?......clipped

OH My! What can I say?

When do you graduate?