have you ever bought a meal or something else for a patient?

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

One time, our central supply had run out of combs.... :eek: (can you believe that?)...anyway-every patient I had that day wanted a comb...so on my way home that night-I stopped and bought a 10 comb pack and took it to work the next day so our patients could fix their hair.....(you know, looks are everything:cool: )

mother/babyRN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

I buy shampoo and things like that for our unit...Small price to pay for the people who don't have any....

mother/babyRN, RN · Jan 10, 2003

I have to say that I haven't thought of this in a long time, but years ago when my oldest, now 20, was about 5, he fell and broke a tooth while playing hockey on ice outside. Took him to the er and there was a dental consult of course, but this was Christmas eve and no one was available. The kid was screaming in pain. I was crying. My mom was crying. The dentist on the other end of the phone asked to speak with me, told me where his office was and said he would meet us there in 20 minutes. When we got there , he, his wife and their 3 small children were there, let us in, where he placed a temporary cap on my sons tooth. I was so grateful that I was again in tears, to which his wife replied, " We're parents too." and gave me a big hug. This was like 5 in the after noon on Christmas eve. I still consider that one of my most memorable moments when it comes to kindness from someone else...

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 10, 2003

Random acts of kindness.

I'm guilty. I always take pity on some poor old souls with no family. You know, the ones that end up in the nursing home with NOTHING. Just simple little things -- of course anonymously.

littlemack · Jan 10, 2003

This lady was the luckiest person that day to have had you there providing for her.

I have feed several children on the Peds unit where I worked many years ago and if needed would do so again. It makes me feel good to have made a positive influence on them.

dianacs · Jan 10, 2003

Reading all of your posts has brought tears to my eyes. I hope I can be half as generous and compassionate as you folks.

2banurse · Jan 11, 2003

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
Anyone see the news segment about foodlines for the working-poor in Ohio?? It's sobering, there were NURSES, retired military veterans, forklift drivers, etc in these lines No ONE was a NON working family but yet could NOT feed themselves on what their pay was! It was like a scene of the Depression and VERY scary--- It is said, we are only 3 meals from anarchy in any country. When we are hungry, we will do almost anything to eat. So your kindness was definately appreciate, Mark. And as usual, a very timely thread.

I saw parts of that on 60 minutes 2...broke my heart! I think that is why I get so upset at some of the spending in our country, particularly by the government...here they spend billions of dollars for a weapon and only a small portion of this could really help the working poor.

Kris

kids · Jan 11, 2003

I used to work at a SNF that got a lot of VA patients, mostly street people. I brought in a lot of socks & underwear.

(Before I had even started nursing school)

We were pretty poor when my youngest was born in 1984. I was convinced he was going to be a girl, I had bought tons of baby girl stuff (pretty & clean but second hand) lucky for him his brother is only a year older.

Justin was born in the afternoon. That night I got a room mate, this pretty 15 or 16 year old girl...her manicured, designer suited mom was with her, when the nurse offered her something for pain the mom said she couldn't have any...the pain would "remind her not to spread her legs next time". I could hear that mom thru the curtin just slamming on that girl about what a w***e she was, what a humiliation she was...when they tried to wheel the baby in the mom ordered the nurse back out...she (the girl) didn't need to see it, she wasn't keeping it...the girl was crying that she wanted to keep her baby...anyway you get the picture.

The mom eventually left and they did bring the baby in. There were nurses & social workers AND the police in & out of the room all night talking or just being with the girl, the next morning when the mom came in and found her with the baby the shyt hit the fan...yelling at every body, going to sue, trying to take the baby out of its Mothers arms. I am please to say she put up a bit of a fight when security bodily removed her and she was barred from coming back.

The girl & her baby girl were released from the hospital before I was and were going to a foster home together, she had absolutely nothing for a baby, she had been 'grounded' (including school) when her parents found out and was told she was not keeping it...all of my baby girl stuff went with them, including a bassinette (I had a crib & a bassinette, she had none so...). My mom pitched in and bought some baby bottles & a package of diapers. I don't know what made her cry harder, being told they had found a home for her & her baby or when my husband wheeled in that bassinette loaded with baby stuff & she realized it was for them.

Sometimes you have the oppertunity and the resources and you just have to do something.

I had my oldest when I was 16 and my Mom was very supportive, I can't imagine how that poor girl felt, the hell she must have lived in during her pregnancy. I hadn't thought about them in years, I hope they made their way OK together.

RN always, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2003

I am so touched by all of these stories. I love to do random acts of kindness. Like my quote says "Love really does make the world go round"

God Bless all you kind special people!

hollybear · Jan 14, 2003

I am glad to see all the random acts of kindness done. I have done a few myself:)