Most memorable thing patient has said to me...

Nurses General Nursing

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I had a patient the other night tell me "If I can't remember you later will you promise to remember me?

I thought this was such a sweet thing to say, she had dementia and I work with her for several nights she said I made her feel at ease... She touched my heart and I don't think I ever will forget her.

What is the most memorable thing a patient has ever said to you?

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Some great one liners for sure. Thanks everyone for sharing. I had a one liner that I take with me everywhere I go....she said..."You were born to be a nurse!" I thought I was too...it blessed me so to have it confirmed when I was having serious doubts!

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Years ago, I had a medical pt. from Johannesburg, SA. He was visiting his son and daughter, and was admitted with acute gastroenteritis. I was a nsg student at the time. I would make him tea and crackers in the evenings and chat with him. He noticed my last name is of Swedish origin, and he wa also a Swede. We just had this connection. Like a Grandfather and Granddaughter. I lost my own beloved Grandpop when I was quite young.

During my last evening with him, he asked me for my address, as he said he would like to write me.

Several weeks later, I received a beautiful bouquet of roses and a postcard from Johannesburg. In it he said: Thank you so much for taking such good care of me. I so enjoyed talking with you, and I will never forget your beauty, inside and out. I still have that post card today, and I look at t from time to time to remind myself why I became a nurse.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Help me to remember that when I'm doing what I do...

That when I'm serving others, I'm really serving You.

Quote from a bookmark I recieved as a "thank you" before I left my work for NS....I still have that pop into my head when it's been a VERY trying night.

Patient wise....I took care of a 98 yo LOL...she was NPO with a NG tube, feedings, and was in bilateral wrist restraints...due to trying to pull out the tube. The entire first night...she didn't say a word. Just looked at me the entire time, as I washed her, dried her, talked to her, sang elvis songs to her...etc.

The next night, after rounds, I went in to get her bath done early...and all I heard was "help me, god, help me..." So, I went in, and asked "are you scared?" she nodded with eyes really big....."well, my name is Lorenzo, and I'll be your CNA again tonight....whatta say we get washed up for bed?" I proceeded to get the water ready and spent a good 30 minutes getting everything just right(I usually did it in 15)....After I got done she asked me "Are you god?"...the phrase above popped into my head. "No, maam, I'm just one of His helpers." "Well, he doesn't pay you enough...when I get to heaven, I'm gonna ask him to give you a raise." Lost it....totally. Throughout the night, whenever I went in and asked if she needed anyting, I got "love." told her I loved her...and she responded...I know, you're a good man.

Always stuck with me...and I will never forget her. Or the 101 yo who wished she could take me home because I was so "gentle"...lol

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Help me to remember that when I'm doing what I do...

That when I'm serving others, I'm really serving You.

Quote from a bookmark I recieved as a "thank you" before I left my work for NS....I still have that pop into my head when it's been a VERY trying night.

Patient wise....I took care of a 98 yo LOL...she was NPO with a NG tube, feedings, and was in bilateral wrist restraints...due to trying to pull out the tube. The entire first night...she didn't say a word. Just looked at me the entire time, as I washed her, dried her, talked to her, sang elvis songs to her...etc.

The next night, after rounds, I went in to get her bath done early...and all I heard was "help me, god, help me..." So, I went in, and asked "are you scared?" she nodded with eyes really big....."well, my name is Lorenzo, and I'll be your CNA again tonight....whatta say we get washed up for bed?" I proceeded to get the water ready and spent a good 30 minutes getting everything just right(I usually did it in 15)....After I got done she asked me "Are you god?"...the phrase above popped into my head. "No, maam, I'm just one of His helpers." "Well, he doesn't pay you enough...when I get to heaven, I'm gonna ask him to give you a raise." Lost it....totally. Throughout the night, whenever I went in and asked if she needed anyting, I got "love." told her I loved her...and she responded...I know, you're a good man.

Always stuck with me...and I will never forget her. Or the 101 yo who wished she could take me home because I was so "gentle"...lol

This one brought tears to my eyes... Thank you.:heartbeat

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Specializes in ED.

For me it was the first time one of my critical patients grabbed me on the arm and asked, "am I going to die?".

Even though he and his wife knew he was very sick, we had kept things light, joking, laughing, when we could. He waited until his wife left the room, grabbed my arm and asked if he was going to die. It was the first time I had to have a frank discussion with a patient about the possibility that he could die, and very soon. It was one of those moments that stays with me.

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

I had a Pt who literally looked lost without his beloved Harley, tattoo's, beard, he had the whole look. After a serious bike accident he was in our ward and screamed in agony every time he was rolled for pressure area care, no matter how much analgesia was given.

The first time I met him was at one of his infamous rolls, the staff hated them as much as him. As I walked into his room he had a terrified look on his face and asked, "We are not going to hurt each other now are we?" , I answered that ÿes, we probably would, but we will be as gentle as we can."

After the roll he called me back and thanked me, adding, "I know you are all trying to be gentle but it hurts so much, thanks for being honest and telling me that it will hurt I don't need any more bull****"

After he left our ward and went to rehab he came back to visit a few times and each time he would nod to me with a silent understanding. Each little nod meant more than any words he could express.

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Specializes in ICU.

i had pt awhile back who had survived a very traumatic suicide attempt - she was agitated most of the time, and was constantly trying to pull her lines, and hardly spoke a word, but one day she looked me in the eye and said simply

"thank you for all your kindness and generosity"

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When I was a newbie aide, I SUCKED. That's the truth.

I was disorganized, scared, slow and just plain green... and it showed! LOL!

Anyway, a rather fussy patient finally said one night, "You know, honey, when you first started, I thought, 'gosh, that girl isn't going to cut it'. But you have really gotten your act together. I have to tell you, in all confidentiality, that you have turned out to be the BEST aide here! I think you should be proud of yourself!"

I about cried!

She said that just before she left to live in another facility and I never forgot her.

Thank you, Ann... I know you are in a good place now. You helped this "kid" in ways that have lasted for twenty years!!!!

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

"Your'e smarter than you look", said with a straight, stern face. I looked at him, and laughed, and said "I'll take that as a compliment?"

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Specializes in tele, ICU.

one night i had spent a good part of my shift attempting to do everything possible to make a vented post-op patient comfortable. finally, when he was starting to settle a bit, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and mouthed "thank you" around his ET tube.

a few days later i was back at work, saw that he was extubated and stopped in to say hello and ask how he was feeling. he didn't remember me. but i'll never forget the gratitude i saw in his face and eyes and the feeling that all the hard work was worth something.

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Specializes in Government.

Back in the early 90's I was working on a pediatric floor that got a lot of hemophilia patients. They were all getting diagnosed with AIDS from contaminated Factor VIII. One particular 16 year old boy looked at me and said: "I'll never be with a girl". He died when I was in the room a few weeks later. I still think about him all the time.

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Specializes in Rehab.

I work in a rehab hospital where the maximum length of stay is about 2 weeks. Alot of my pt's besides their knee or hip fx have other co-morbidities and some are actually very acute. Well, I was assigned to the pt. in 106 and his wife. I say that because she was there 24/7 with this man and would write every little thing down that we did. I don't know how she could do it because her husband was so mean! Not to us, but to her. He would say things to her infront of us that just made our mouths drop sometimes. In the early hours she would wake up, come out and get a cup of coffee and sit and read the newspaper before he would wake up. That was my time to come out and visit with her. Even when I was no longer assigned to him, every morning when I was there and she came out we would sit and chat for awhile. She would start to cry and I would hold her hand and listen, or give her comforting words. Last night was their last night there and she came out this morning to say goodbye. Instead of telling me how thankful she was for the help, or the good service, or taking care of him.... she said "thank you for your friendship."

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