One of your best moments in Med Surg is...

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...when a little elderly patient introduced me to her grandson, informing him that I was her nurse, and that she is very happy that her grandson was thinking about going into the field as well. She was smiling ear to ear.

You should have seen that smile.

Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

When a doctor I woke up 1 or more times in the middle of the night says "Thank you for calling." :D

When a patient that I sent to ICU a few days or more ago is back on our surgical unit and stable.

One morning a critical H/H was called up on a confused hip fx patient. I got an order to transfuse 2 units PRBC and was looking up a family member's number to get phone consent when her son showed up. When I explained to him that his mom's blood counts were low and she needed a transfusion and could he sign the consent, he told me "I'd do anything for my mom, I'd mortgage my house for her if it would help her get better." I felt tears well up in my eyes and I just smiled at him around the lump in my throat. :crying2: :redpinkhe :heartbeat :cry: :)

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

The last day in clinical, when I told myself I never had to go back if I didnt want to. I never wanted to.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

One of the no-nonsense docs who can be intimidating told my patient that she had a good nurse today.

and a week ago a young girl with tears in her eyes hugged me at the coffee shop and thanked me for taking such good care of her.

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I had a pt who spoke very little english, but we still had a great relationship. Suddenly he took a turn for the worst he wasnt responsive and not eating.We were in the middle of turning him and I was talking to the other nurse. He all of a sudden opened his eyes and reached out to grab my hand. The other nurse was so shocked. I was touched , unfortunatly he passed the next day. But it taught me that u can still have an impact on someones life even without communicating.

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

My favorite moments in med-surg are when I actually have sufficient time to explain to pts in detail why they are receiving this med/what their test will look for/why they should keep on their venodynes or use that spirometer/how scheduled vs. prn meds work...whatever it is & then I see the lightbulb go off and they realize why. I love that cuz then they really understand what is going on and why, and not just that "you are getting this." My other fave. moments revolve around my pts asking me "Will you be my nurse tomorrow evening too?" and when they ask me this I know I did a good job taking care of them. :)

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

One thing I really like is when a post-op patient, especially an ortho or a GI patient, has a high temp and I teach them how to use the incentive spirometry and cough and their temp goes back down and their pulse ox stays up. I also like it when a GI patient passes gas! :D

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

It's just all those little moments that are fun. :) I always have a hard time thinking of the BIGGEST, BEST moment of my job, but I love those little moments.

Last week I took care of a little 5 year old boy with a history of Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus, and a neurogenic bladder. He was admitted for fever and possible UTI, but also a possible infection of the shunt that drains his head. He was a little PILL and I had fun taking care of him. I gave him lots of stickers. I love giving the kids stickers.

When I came back to work this past Friday night, he was gone but... in our little pediatric exam room on the floor, were five big pictures of Nickelodeon characters that he and his mom had colored together, and his mom had signed them "To all the nurses on 4th floor, thank you for taking care of me!" and his name was on them. It just brought such a huge smile to my face going into that room to get report from the outgoing nurse and seeing those pictures hanging there. :)

MAN... I think I'm really going to miss Med Surge. I do need to get away from it for at least a while, but maybe I'll be back...

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Specializes in ABMT.

The pt who had knee surgery and whose anxiety meds were suddenly stopped and who was *screeeaming* and rattling the bed rails and had to be restrained a few weeks ago and who went to the rehab unit and had to come back to our med surg unit because her knee got infected---was, yesterday, up walking with a walker in the hall and she was smiling.

YESSS!!!

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Specializes in Postpartum.
My other fave. moments revolve around my pts asking me "Will you be my nurse tomorrow evening too?" and when they ask me this I know I did a good job taking care of them. :)

I agree. My third night last week orienting a patient we took care of on the first night asked another nurse if I was going to take care of her again because no one compared to me and my preceptor!! I was flattered and went to say hi to her and explain I couldnt be there but I was thinking of her. She squeezed my hand and said thank you for coming by. I know it was because we only had two patients on my first and second nights that gave us the time to help her, but it was a good boost for me as a new grad on the floor the first time!. :nurse:

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Specializes in ORTHO/TRAUMA, PACU.

I loved hearing all these stories unfortantely I don't have any of mine own yet but I can't wait till I do. Keep up all the good work and great care.

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When patients ask if you're going to be THEIR nurse again he next day OR when they thank you for taking the time to TALK to them. I had an 85 yr old woman who was in for an abdominal obstruction and all she wanted was for someone to explain to her why an 85 yr old woman should be fussed over? She felt she had lived a long wonderful life and was not afraid to die. She thought she might refuse surgery or any kind of care and just GO. I said, "hun, this is may not be a major problem so let the people here help you. It may actually fix itself. I promise there will be other TIMES later on when you can tell them to leave you be. This may very well be an easy fix and you should not worry about dieing at this point. She thanked me for taking the time to explain to her the situation and for just talking with her. And then there are the moments when you connect with a non verbal patient VISUALLY. We just had a woman with Parkinsons who was so frail and cute. I took the time to hold her hand and stroke her head while i asked how she was doing. Her eyes told me she was so glad someone was taking the time to do this. THAT is WONDERFUL!

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I have two:

Took care of a teenage girl in clinicals, really incredible experience for me.....about 6 months later in a local store I saw her mother....she updated me on the patient and turned to my 13 yo daughter and said..."Your mother is wonderful".....(made me want to cry and filled my heart with joy)

A few months in, brand new nurse, patient not doing so well, family decided to transfer him to larger hospital. He asked me if he could pray for me, and held my hand while thanking God for sending him an angel to take care of him. Here I was feeling inadequate and he thanked God for ME taking care of him.......I knew I was meant to be where I always longed to be....IN NURSING!!!

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