Some Feel Good stories

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Hi guys,

in light of recent surfacing of increasing negativity, I wanted to start a happy threat.

We all have crappy days, but lets talk about some of our good days. What has happened recently that made you happy to be a nurse. Have you had any happy patients that really made your day? Share some hope, some happiness, maybe even a sad story that touches our hearts, bring a tear to our eyes, and makes us realize how special our profession is.

I have a couple of stories, besides the crap I put up with at work, my residents at our LTC facility make everything worthwile. I got married on Sept. 27th, some of the families and residents got us some wedding presents, nice things, a couple pieces of crystal. One of my favorite residents was very sad, said her family couldn't come and take her to the store to buy us anything. She said all that she could do is pray for us that we have a happy marriage, and I told her that would be more than enough. I always give her a hug goodnight, and she was feeling really bad about not having a present. This weekend she called me into her room, she said that she finally got her family to go to the store for her. She got a gift bag and gave us a salt and pepper shaker set. This set was not fancy, not expensive, but it made her face shine that she was able to give something back for all the care and love that she had recieved. I almost cried when she gave me the shakers, and I gave her a very big hug. She just wanted to be able to give back, let me know how much she appreciated all of us. This might be a cheezy story, but it made my weekend.

Let me know about your better days in nursing.

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Awwwww I personally don't think it's cheezy at all, these little moments are what makes it all worth while, it's like children, the really big moments are the ones that are the most simple (did that make sense?) anyway one of mine, after 13 years I have many but the one that really lets me know how much I'm appreciated.... one night while working on the oncology floor I went in to check on this little man, and he was obviously frustrated with his cell phone that his daughter had bought him, I asked if I could help him with something, and all he needed was for me to program her number into the phone and show him how to easily get to it when he needed to call her, it took me about 2 minutes to do this but the way he hugged me, and teared up you would have thought I had just given him the moon, anyway that's my story...

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Wonderful story. I bet those s/p shakers have a special in your home. I am sure you made her day when you accepted the shakers and admired them and thanked her profusely. It takes so little to be kind to others. Keep up the good stories.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Hey Markus, my wedding anniversary is the same day!:D My DH & I have been married for 23 years, so that must've been a good day to wed.....congratulations, and may you & your new spouse be as happy as we are.

Here's one of my feel-good stories: I'd been taking care of a very anxious, demanding (some might say "whiny") patient of considerable social status for several days running, and she had more complaints than you could shake a stick at---room's too hot, too cold, blankets are rough, roommate snores, food's lousy, pain meds aren't brought soon enough, call bells kept her up all night, etc., etc. She also frequently criticized the nurses, and even yelled at me a couple of times, basically for not jumping the instant she said "Frog". I've got a lot of patience, but this woman was really beginning to wear me down since nothing I did seemed to make her happy.

Anyway, the day of discharge finally arrived, and just as I was finishing the paperwork, this pt. reached out to me and said, "You are an extraordinary woman.......thank you for taking such good care of me."

Needless to say, I was floored.......but it felt WONDERFUL to know that the effort I'd put in trying to satisfy her had been noticed, and that made it worth all the frustration. To this day, I've never once regretted going the extra mile.:)

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Markus,

I don't have a story to share as I'm not even in nursing school quite yet... Fall of 2004.

I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread (and thanks to those posting their stories). It's good for future nurses to know what the real world is about (the not so good stuff), but the good and sappy stuff is the kind of thing that will keep me motivated through the rough parts of school and beyond.

Thanks again!!

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Wow, can't believe there haven't been more posts than this so far; great thread idea!

I'm just a student right now, but I had my first clinical last week and gave a 94 y/o woman who almost didn't make it through the night a complete bed bath and occupied bed change. She told me, "I know I'm going to go, but I want to go clean." Afterward, she was so grateful and said it was the best bath she's had in "all her years." It touched me to see her look at me with her weak, teary eyes, hold her hand out to me, and say, "I may not see you again, but God bless you, dear." Her family also thanked me many times for taking such good care of her.

Needless to say, it was a positive experience.

I hope to hear more of others' stories; surely nursing isn't ALL yucky?

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