Quick Story about a Caring Nurse

[BusinessGrad]

My grandmother had been in a LTC facility for the past four years. Over the weekend, things took a turn for the worse, and unfortunately she passed away yesterday.

I wanted to share a quick story. I was unable to visit my grandmother often, as I have been away at college, but my mother made visits nearly every day for the past four years that my grandmother was located at the LTC facility. Over the course of these four years, she really developed a rapport with the nursing staff.

We got a call yesterday to rush out to the facility, and unfortunately by the time we had made it, she had already passed. While we were standing out in the hallway waiting for the funeral home to come, we noticed an inordinate amount of nurses lingering by the nursing station chatting just a few feet away, but nobody was paying us any attention. There was one nurse, who bless her heart, came up to us and cried with my mother who was taking the news extremely hard. The simple fact that this nurse took the time to come visit with my mother and shed tears with her at the ultimate moment of sadness, can never be forgotten as she truly made the terrible afternoon just a little bit better for my mom. It is this kind of compassion that I will never forget, especially once I get into my nursing program next fall. In short, I just wanted to post this so that hopefully her actions can be carried on by others. I know I will never forget what this nurse did for my family simply by coming over and offering her condolences, and I hope her compassion might be carried on by other nurses who hear this story on this forum.

From reading these forums, I realize a lot of negativity is posted. I just wanted to post this so that you all realize how much you are appreciated and how much your job matters. Thanks for reading my post, as I know it is way too long, but I had to express my gratitude to you all for doing what you do.

[Be_Moore]

Very touching post, and thank you for your appreciation. That was one brave nurse who came to be with you. I would just like you to understand, from our perspective, why it is that those nurses for the most part were ignoring you. We work in a profession that is very emotionally difficult, and a lot of us distance ourselves from the emotional side of it. It comes across as cynical, jaded, or possibly even heartless...but it is protection for us. I've been an RN almost 2 years now and have seen so many patients die already...to grieve for them all would leave one emotionally exhausted.

I am sorry to hear of your loss, and I am glad that one nurse could make your time easier, but also please don't look down on the others who stood back...they are people that have to deal with death all too frequently.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

that caring nurse makes us all proud. my deepest sympathy to you and your family.

praiser :heartbeat

[NurseCard, ADN]

Thank you for that story. I do have to echo what Be Moore said; that sometimes we nurse do have to distance ourselves a bit or else we'd be total messes emotionally.

However, your post also helps to remind me that sometimes it really doesn't take a lot of effort for us nurses to make a huge difference in someone's lives. Thank you. :) :icon_hug:

[krenee]

I am touched by the fact that you chose to focus your post on praising the one nurse who came to you rather than to condemn the nurses who didn't. I am sure you will be a wonderful nurse. I will also try to remember your story, as I am a recent graduate who is about to begin my career.

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

Thank you for coming here to share this story.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

Best of luck to you in your endeavors! Your story was wonderful!

[TuTonka]

Good luck and as you go through NP remember all the advice here. It will save you alot of heart ache throughout the years. Special Kudos to Be Moore for going that extra mile so that person would have a better understanding.

TuTonka