So check this out....

[mindlor]

6 pts......all strict contact iso. All have either trachs, vents, or both. All are incontinent B&B. All have a huge list of meds that must be crushed and given via PEG. We are talking total care here........makes for a long day.....

Family is present frequently and requires a lot of attention.

Very very hard job.

But then speech patho comes and puts a passey muir on one of my pts and the first thing she says to me is "thank you for being such a comfort to me".

That makes it all worthwhile. Then another family, the mom and the brother of a guy my age...he is weaning off the vent but he will likely never progress beyond a GCS score of 5.....as they were leaving...it is my custom to touch people on the shoulder lightly to reassure them....well this time I did that and they wrapped their arms around me and gave me a huge hug.....

Then another....her dad is GCS 3, vent dependent.....being dc'd to home under hospice care....again...another big hug.....

Another thread says nursing is slavery...I say nursing is a labor of love. I say that many seem to have lost the caring and compassion element of nursing.

I say that if any nurse does not love what they do...it may be time for them to re-evaluate what they are doing.......

[Inimica18]

I loved reading your post! You are right that caring can neither be bought nor taught and with days like you described, family and patient appreciation makes all the difference. However, I do not think that your staffing levels are safe. The scenario that you described is downright scary! Anxiety level and thus risk for errors are just expected with this kind of assignment and on top of that you are still brand new?? I hope that this gets better soon for you, because I hate to tell you this but you will get burnt out within a matter of months.

[threebrats46]

brought tears to my eyes!! great post and def makes it all worth it!

[amoLucia]

brought tears to my eyes!! great post and def makes it all worth it!

I kind of felt teary too. Sometimes the good posts take your breath away and bring all the good stuff back into focus. TY to OP.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

You are too kind I am afraid....I have so much to learn. I feel like an infant. I pray everyday that I do no harm to a patient. I was involved in a rapid response the other day and I was really really impressed by the nursing supervisor and how she handled everything. Just so fluid and calm. She was amazing. She has tons of experience. I am going to ask her to be my mentor :) I hope she says yes.

places like this hire very skilled supervisors usually as they are the resource and critical response person of the facility....especially on the off shifts. I loved that job.

Bless you..... for you are an infant in the nursing world. Those who recognize what they have to learn will be great mentors someday!!!!

[RNDesiroo]

I also would like safer staffing. I just want someone to do my VS, accuchecks, and help with getting ppl to the bathroom, HELP cleaning them up. I take responsibility for communicating with a tech to make sure I know what they have learned about my patients. It would free up time to make sure meds are passed ON time, for me to TEACH, and for me to provide emotional support. I do care so much! Which is why I hate the nights I'm so busy I feel as though all I have time to do is check things off a list of tasks.