Positive Side of Nursing

I like making a difference. I don't mean having a pt come in with pain and being grateful when they leave pain free. That's good too, but I'm talking about really making a difference: making a catch that saved a life, or working my butt off transferring a pt to a tertiary care center in time to prevent problems. Things like that. It's nice when a pt says "thank you," but it means more to me when a doc or higher level of care says "Good job!"

Most of my patients need me. I'm one of the few advocates (sadly) who will defend them, because they are poor immigrants who cannot speak up for themselves. Most of them don't know what I have to do to fight for their rights. Is that a positive thing? It doesn't bring me joy. Every day that this happens, it makes me feel sad. Perhaps it's because I am still training that I don't feel enough "power" to assert myself and say some of the things I really need to say, such as "we have no right to treat this patient this way" to staff who are incredibly heartless. When I am done with my orientation, perhaps I will feel more empowered, because I feel at the moment imprisoned by my lack of confidence.

Sorry this is a downer. This is a positive as it gets for me. My heart breaks everyday. All the "mistreatment" towards me as a nurse, I can handle. All the inhumane things I see around me, that's really tough of me. I fear that I will grow as insensitive as my colleagues. Allnurses is a positive place for me. It allows me to feel okay to keep fighting.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being a nurse. I have been doing it for over 8 years now and can't imagine doing anything else. I enjoy the closeness of my co-workers, the way they make me laugh. It is wonderful watching how they work together to solve a problem or talk each other through a rough shift. I love when I can get an IV or a hard stick on someone and they smile and say, WOW, your really good, I didn't even feel that. I love when someone is going bad and I KNOW what to do. What a feeling to say, I saved a LIFE tonight..... I love working with the docs who appreciate nurses. I got off the elevator today and saw a cardiologist walking off my unit, he smiled real big and grabbed my hand and said, hey hon, have a good night as he walked by. Last night a nephrologist got a big smile on his face when he saw me and said Where you been? Then came over and gave me a hug. I love that I feel respected when I speak an opinion to a doctor and when I give advice to an elderly person. It is amazing that I can ease someone's mind when they are concerned about paying their bill when I assure them that there are programs in the hospital to assist them. What isn't to love?

Let me be frank. I got into nursing for the $$$. I still do it for the same reason. But I get a reward out of it. I won't go on...but I find it very rewarding when a pt is satisfied and goes to sleep...soundly and wakes up refreshed because I did everything I could to make them comfortable for the night. I find it very satisfying, that I am the one who sees that pt off to the world beyond ours. I just treat all of my pts as if I was the one in that bed...if I am satisfied with my performance as a nurse and they have moved on....I feel good.

Be comforted, my patient. For I will treat you with the respect you deserve.

You are in pain and suffering, I understand. I am here and I will make it better for you...and your family. You can count on me.

I want nothing in return. Just tell me you are comforted by this...I will work hard too make your traumic experience as low impact as possible. Can I hold your hand? Can I rub your back? Do you need some relief from the pain? Can I prop you with a pillow to help feel more comfortable? Can I soothe your fears? I want to hug you and make you feel someone cares.

I will try my best! I will give you words of encouragement. Can I stroke your hair...what comforts you? You see, I care about you! Please help me help you! It's all I want to do! How can I help you? Soothe you?

This is the positive side of nursing....and may it carry on too all!

Most of my patients need me. I'm one of the few advocates (sadly) who will defend them, because they are poor immigrants who cannot speak up for themselves. Most of them don't know what I have to do to fight for their rights. Is that a positive thing? It doesn't bring me joy. Every day that this happens, it makes me feel sad. Perhaps it's because I am still training that I don't feel enough "power" to assert myself and say some of the things I really need to say, such as "we have no right to treat this patient this way" to staff who are incredibly heartless. When I am done with my orientation, perhaps I will feel more empowered, because I feel at the moment imprisoned by my lack of confidence.

Sorry this is a downer. This is a positive as it gets for me. My heart breaks everyday. All the "mistreatment" towards me as a nurse, I can handle. All the inhumane things I see around me, that's really tough of me. I fear that I will grow as insensitive as my colleagues. Allnurses is a positive place for me. It allows me to feel okay to keep fighting.

wow!!!!! people like you are what make me want to be an RN. you have really inspired me with your response cause i feel just like you. All I hope for is that i get accepted into our RN program and make it through.

In my first semester I was caring for an elderly man who was very embarrassed that he was wearing 'briefs' that had to be changed. When I'd finished and had gotten him all done and my gloves off, he held my hand and sang me a song.

The next time I was there, he was very ill and becoming sicker thru the shift. Myself and another student became very worried when his lung sounds decreased dramatically. We reported it to the charge nurse and the RN was there too. Based on our assessments, (first semester students!) a sputum sample was collected (I got the honors) Xrays were done, and the pt was diagnosed w/ pneumonia.

I spent almost the whole afternoon in that room with him, helping him reposition, change, cool cloths on the forehead etc.

I felt that the gift he gave me (the song) and care I gave him, made such an impact on how I look at nursing.

Same facility, different week. An elderly patient on precautions--gown, glove, mask.. a bit of a nightmare for a first semester student to remember how to gown up and take off in the right order. Two of us were assigned to him because he was very needly. Lonely, scared, and anxious. Unable to ambulate, and verbalizing that he didn't think he had much time left. He was on the bell all the time. We did his morning care, meds which were quite complicated, got him dressed, etc. All in those full-face shields and bright yellow gowns and gloves. Wound care on two decubitus on his foot, neb tx, it just goes on. He was so needy physically and emotionally, so alone. Aids were rolling their eyes about him. But he was scared and there just wasn't any human touch for him, it was all thru gloves.

He had to go off the floor, physical therapy or something. When he came back, he felt weak, feverish, and more and more anxious even w/ prn ativan.

I went in, and I just sat with him. We were both in chairs, I was next to him. He told me his lady friend was going to visit. We watched a National Geographic show on salt mines together. I rubbed his back.

Not too long after, he needed more care, back to bed, more tx, more meds etc. We stayed about an hour longer on the floor that day, my classmate, instructor and I, as we cared for this man, plus we had to do our complete physical assessment paper on him.

We left probably around 1 or 1:30p.

At 2pm that man died.

I feel that of all the nursing interventions I did that day, and there were many, the best one was sitting and watching TV with him. Nothing fancy but probably the best intervention that gentleman had all day.

And when we left, he left too.

That is why I am going into nursing. Because I can and do make a difference.

When a patient recovers and does well because of something that you did. How great! Or when you advocate for them and actually make waves....getting SOMEONE like an MD or PA to listen and make changes....And the patient does well....What a great feeling! How bout when a patient smiles at you and thanks you for everything. One told me that she thought I was an Angel and she would pray that I get everything that I needed. A simple smile or thank you....goes a long way and really means a lot. It kind of ties everything together for you. Makes you feel really good. Reminds you why you got into the field...:)

I work as a tech in a very busy ED, and it is SOOOO easy to get cynical, and seem uncaring, because caring too much can sometimes hurt so much I can't get through a shift. But every time I start thinking "why am I acting like this, I'm not even through nursing school yet, I'm going to be a terrible nurse if I don't shape up" I get a patient who I really feel I've made a difference to. It may just be a simple "thank you," something we don't hear very often, or a doctor saying "yeah, you're right" when I bring something up to him (like last night, lady w/ vag bleed, doc ordered clean catch UA. I went to him and asked if I could do an in and out cath, so as not to contaminate the specimen with blood, and he said "oh yeah, you're right, that WOULD be a good idea!" Later he told me thank you for the suggestion, because the sample was excellent, and the results were much better b/c of the cath). A couple nights ago I had a patient who had been in an MVC, while trying to get to the ER to see her grandaughter who had been in an MVC earlier that night. She was soooo worried about her granddaughter, and since I could see that the RNs had her assesment and initial care underway, and didn't seem to need much help, I went and checked the computer system to figure out what was up w/ her granddaughter. The system said she had been treated and released, so I told my patient that, and the relief on her face was tremendous. She ended up needing transport to a trauma facility for a T2 fx and a pneumothorax, and by that time her daughter was there. This poor woman had been up all night long, first with her daughter in an MVC and then her mother.... I could tell she was quite worried, and exhausted, and on the verge of tears. I gave her a hug, asked if there was anything she needed, and assured her that her mother was going to have the very best care, and that everything would be alright. I asked again if there was anything she needed, and the daughter said "honey, you've been the biggest help all night long. THank you for being here to care for my family. You all do the most important job, and you're so kind and caring." It's things like that night that make me excited to go through nursing school, and to continue my career as a nurse. When I can go home at the end of a long night and say, "I did something important, and I really helped someone," that is when I know that I'm doing the job I was born to do.

I love these responces, it almost make me cry to read these cause I can feel what your saying.

Epiphany: I know how you feel. I am first generation, I was born in the USA and my parents are from the Dominican Republic. I hate how some Americans can be so mistreating to immigrants and I feel your pain. I hope you keep reading these responces and make you feel better. And know that you are not the only one fighting for people without a voice.

ShayRN, were do you work?

This week, I'm doing clinicals and yesterday I was at the county-run nursing home. Very large (300 beds) but still very clean and well-run. I was doing a lung assessment on a very confused, but very pleasant elderly lady and when I got done, she kissed me on the cheek! And...thanked me! How nice!

The unexpected hugs and kisses are the best!!! Especially when you've been taking care of a difficult and demanding patient, and when they're ready to be discharged, they surprise with that. A couple of months ago, I got two kisses in one day. As one of my colleagues said "That's what will get you through the tough days."

Thank you, Coopergrrl and student4ever!

YOUR stories are what true nursing care is all about, IMHO. Not care plans and nursing diagnoses, meds, and baths. I is simple human caring and dealing with the needs of our patients.

Too many nurses become jaded and forget that.

God bless and keep you both.