rainbows and unicorns

chiandre · Sep 5, 2014

what happened at work today that was good? was there a bright spot in the whirling sea of c-diff and paperwork?

Last two weeks, I was window shopping with my sister, my best friend and a co-worker. We stopped to get ice cream from an ice cream truck. The woman selling the ice cream was excited to see us. This was very unusual in NYC! Since she was speaking in Spanish, my sister (who is very fluent in Spanish) started interpreting.

The woman was saying thank you to me for being her nurse 18 years ago when she came to deliver her son. She took out a picture and showed us a young and handsome man. According to her, the son is starting college this fall. Apparently, she remembered me because of my laugh. She even named the hospital, the unit and the date. I did not remember this woman, but it warmed my heart how we become part of our patients' lives, and how they remember us (even though we do not remember them anymore). I felt like a superstar. She introduced me to several people around. I got tons of hugs, blessings and thank-yous. I was humbled! I thanked her for everything. It was a day that reminded me why I BECAME A NURSE.

By the way, we did not have to pay for the ice cream too!

Swellz · Sep 5, 2014

My patients I got back were actually happy to see me. I'm on nights right now and end up waking them up for vitals, meds, and turns, so them wanting to see me is an accomplishment in my book.

ICURN3020 · Sep 5, 2014

After finishing up my duties and chatting with my patient, I stepped out of the room. I realized I forgot something in the room, so I went back in a minute later. The patient had his eyes closed but opened them upon hearing me enter. He said, "I was just saying a prayer for you." I thought, here is this sick man, stuck in the hospital, and yet he is thinking of me. How selfless. Another time I had a teenage patient who was in as a OD make me a really sweet pencil-drawn card. He appreciated that I had spent the time to listen to him and discuss his choices and future. Most OD patients are in no mood or just don't want to hear it, but this kid was really receptive and it seemed he truly wanted to change his life. I'll keep it forever. I've thought about keeping a personal nursing journal to keep mementos and remember moments in my career like these by.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2014

Back at the beginning of the summer, I admitted an 18 y/o young lady who had had a freak accident at her own graduation party. It was a penetrating head trauma, and she was very fortunate and was neuro intact this whole time and she ended up going to the floor the next day.

Early that morning, I was showing her dad how to get to the cafeteria since my hospital is big and confusing (several attached buildings, several elevators). As we were walking down the hall, he said "Thanks for everything. C was saying she was really glad you were her nurse last night." Made me feel good :)

monkeyhq · Sep 6, 2014

I had a 44 YO early onset Alzheimer patient, non-verbal, ambulatory. She never once had facial expressions of pleasure or pain--she could barely swallow. She was almost all gone except for being able to walk (supervised).

One day, an outside organization brought in small baby farm animals--goats, sheep, bunnies--and the pt. rose from her chair and walked over to them, stroked them and petted them, and smiled and laughed.

She had light that day. She laughed and smiled and pet those animals for a good half hour. It was pure joy to witness.

ICURN3020 · Sep 6, 2014

I had a 44 YO early onset Alzheimer patient, non-verbal, ambulatory. She never once had facial expressions of pleasure or pain--she could barely swallow. She was almost all gone except for being able to walk (supervised).
One day, an outside organization brought in small baby farm animals--goats, sheep, bunnies--and the pt. rose from her chair and walked over to them, stroked them and petted them, and smiled and laughed.
She had light that day. She laughed and smiled and pet those animals for a good half hour. It was pure joy to witness.

I love this story....reminds us that we are privileged to witness some amazing moments as nurses.

SeattleJess · Sep 6, 2014

I had a 44 YO early onset Alzheimer patient, non-verbal, ambulatory. She never once had facial expressions of pleasure or pain--she could barely swallow. She was almost all gone except for being able to walk (supervised).
One day, an outside organization brought in small baby farm animals--goats, sheep, bunnies--and the pt. rose from her chair and walked over to them, stroked them and petted them, and smiled and laughed.
She had light that day. She laughed and smiled and pet those animals for a good half hour. It was pure joy to witness.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing idea! We could do this at my local SNF.

Here's to spreading the light.

MrsICURN14 · Sep 6, 2014

I had a patient a few weeks ago who really should have been on the floor but they were dragging their feet getting him transferred out of the ICU.

I had to take him down to dialysis and he had a lot of anxiety and probably some neuo deficits from cardiac arrest, but for the most part he was alert and oriented, just very child like. So I drop him off, get him set up, and held his hand to tell him I'll be back to get him in a few hours and he squeezed my hand and wouldn't let go. It was super sweet, and I knew that me being there alleviated just a little bit of his anxiety.

It's the little things every now and then that remind me why I became a nurse.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2014

Had the sweetest teenage boy last night, just a total doll. I love teenage patients. Seeing kids becoming young men and women, it's so great when you see it going well!

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Sep 6, 2014

Someone said thank you in the ER.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Sep 6, 2014

When an agitated patient, threatening severe physical violence, receives emergency meds and possibly restraints; comes up on his own (hours later or the next day) and delivers a sincere, spontaneous apology for the loss of control.