Most amazing thing

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So what has been the most incredible thing you have seen in your nursing career? That one moment that has never left you. I know each nurse probably has 100s of them so share one or a few please....

Im still a student, but I have to say that I already have a huge one for my most amazing book. I got to witness the harvesting of corneas for transplant. It was an unexpected thing and it was simply amazing. I was honored and humbled to be able to be in the room while this donor was giving sight to someone in their death.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

I work in neurosurgery. One of the most memorable experiences occurred when a pt came out of surgery and was able to wiggle her toes. It had been about 20 years since she could wiggle her toes. Each day that I worked with her she could do a little more. She was transferred to a rehab facility so I don't know her outcome but I will never forget the look in her eyes when her toes moved.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

The most amazing thing was when my daughter was having my first grandchild and the Doctor whom I used to work with in L&D let me have 5 mins to "do my magic" before he called for C-section due to lack of progress while pushing. I had just flown in from out of state,, got in her face, did my deliver-your-baby whisper in her ear and got her to push my grandson out in 3 mins. And he let me do delivery.

And I will never forget the look on her assigned L&D nurse at the hospital when I walked in and she said I had to leave as my daughter was going to be prepped for section and i said "hell No." I really should have been more reserved but they were not cutting my baby open unless it was absolutely necessary. The doctor who is still my friend seem to get tickled by the nurse's reaction also..

So it was both a nursing moment and a grandmother moment. Thanks for letting me share.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

BTW.. grandson is now 16 and 6ft tall.

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Several years ago I worked float at a small hospital. When I was in acute care, I met a patient who had just had a massive stroke. Even though she couldn't move or even talk, you could see a bitter, angry look in her eyes. This woman had the most amazing husband, and he always seemed to be by her side. It seems like every unit she transferred to, I was taking care of her. She went from ICU to telemetry, and then was on a general floor. She kept getting better, her speech was slow and labored and she still couldn't walk. She was prone to bouts of anger, swearing and spitting, and she frequently told her husband how she hated him and wanted to die. He would look at her and say "Honey, I love you with all my heart. We're going to get through this, but I won't let you give up." Several months had gone by, and one day when I was working in the rehab unit, lo and behold, this patient was on my roster. It was her husband's birthday that day, and when he came in to visit her, she smiled. She grabbed her walker, stood up, and sang happy birthday to him as she walked across the floor in her room. Her husband started crying, and I started crying. It was a beautiful thing to see, and it still brings tears to my eyes to this day.

-Rachel

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

The following scenario is one that I had posted some time ago, but this thread reminded me of my most amazing experience. Thank you, OP for starting this thread. You just reminded me of the absolute gravity of our profession.

I was getting ready to do a Gamma Nail today for a pt, got all of the supplies in the room and went to go meet my pt. He was a 90 year old former MD. He had prostate ca with mets. As his LTC nurse was turning him last night, his femur broke right in her hands. Pathologic fx from another tumor. His daughter was with him, and she told me that she did not want to suspend his DNR order during surgery. She was holding his hand while she was talking to me, and was very aware that this may be the last time she would see him alive. He also had severe dementia. She said that he was unable to communicate anything but pain, did not respond to any questions or gestures, and did not make eye contact. He was extremely frail, and I could see every bone in his body.

When he rolled back to the OR, I leaned down and told him my name, told him that I would not leave his side and gently took his hand into mine right before induction. He looked over at me, held my gaze, and SMILED. I was so close to tears that I had to use every trick in the book to hang on to my emotions. I knew that the surgery would be terribly hard on him, and I think he must have known it too. I am humbled to have taken care of a man that had dedicated his life to the betterment of others. This patient reminded me WHY I chose nursing. I am still choked up.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Several years ago I worked float at a small hospital. When I was in acute care, I met a patient who had just had a massive stroke. Even though she couldn't move or even talk, you could see a bitter, angry look in her eyes. This woman had the most amazing husband, and he always seemed to be by her side. It seems like every unit she transferred to, I was taking care of her. She went from ICU to telemetry, and then was on a general floor. She kept getting better, her speech was slow and labored and she still couldn't walk. She was prone to bouts of anger, swearing and spitting, and she frequently told her husband how she hated him and wanted to die. He would look at her and say "Honey, I love you with all my heart. We're going to get through this, but I won't let you give up." Several months had gone by, and one day when I was working in the rehab unit, lo and behold, this patient was on my roster. It was her husband's birthday that day, and when he came in to visit her, she smiled. She grabbed her walker, stood up, and sang happy birthday to him as she walked across the floor in her room. Her husband started crying, and I started crying. It was a beautiful thing to see, and it still brings tears to my eyes to this day.

-Rachel

OK, Rachel, you owe me a box of Kleenex!

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

The reason I still love my job is hundreds of those moments. We see a lot of people come in on tube feedings, with trachs, barely able to move or communicate. Months later (after lots of PT, OT and ST) they amazingly go home! So many times I've seen pts where you couldn't help but wonder why hospice wasn't involved. But somehow they reach deep inside themselves and pull out every ounce of strength they have. They may not be 100% the person they were before, but they are so amazingly improved you can't imagine that person you admitted is the same person you are discharging. They go on to live fulfilling happy lives. It's a true blessing to be a part of that process.

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Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences.

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OK, Rachel, you owe me a box of Kleenex!

I'm glad you appreciated my story. :). I think this was a really great thread, and it's nice to hear people's positive experiences about the field. I enjoy a b**** session as much as anyone else, but it's good to hear a heart warmer every once in a while. I'll definitely split a box of kleenex with you, especially after all of these great stories!

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following thread

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