Have you received memorable cards and gifts from patients and families that made your day? I have always loved to see the cards, flowers, etc that people will send after our patients go home. Especially I like a progress report that shows our caring made a difference!
We may feel like "just another provider" but when we get a little thanks or recognition, for example, "The best unit my mom has been on" etc., it just helps ease the pain of the trials we face and feeling unappreciated.
I know we aren't supposed to take gifts but my supervisor once made an exception. I was caring for a lady in a nursing home and she passed away. Her family gave me a special watch that was made with abelone shell, it was gorgeous. They just liked how I had cared for her in her last days.
This is something that says "thanks" to all of us - and from some of us, to you. It is written as if people with disabilities might have written it, but it seems to apply to any of our nursing experiences:
BEATITUDES FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE
BLESSED ARE YOU who take time to listen to difficult speech, for you
help us to know that if we persevere we can be understood.
BLESSED ARE YOU who walk with us in public places, and ignore the
stares of strangers, for in your friendship we feel good to be
ourselves.
BLESSED ARE YOU who never bid us to "hurry up" and, more blessed,
you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us,
for often we need time rather than help.
BLESSED ARE YOU who stand beside us as we enter new and untried
ventures, for our unsureness will be outweighed by the times when we
surprise ourselves and you.
BLESSED ARE YOU who ask for our help and realize our giftedness, for
our greatest need is to be needed.
BLESSED ARE YOU who help us with the graciousness of Christ, for
often we need the help we cannot ask for.
BLESSED ARE YOU when, by all things, you assure us that what makes
us individuals is not our particular disability or difficulty but
our beautiful God-given person-hood which no handicapping condition
can confine.
REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD for your understanding and love have
opened doors for us to enjoy life to its full and you have helped us
Last night I had a patient tell me that I was: "A doctor in his book". Meant as a high compliment, I know.
But as I'm considering at this time the respect and contributions of nurses, I found myself conceding to the intent of the compliment much more than the actual words. If I had taken the words at face value, I'm afraid I would have been insulted.
Memorable? Yes. The intent was one of the highest compliments I have received.
But, it also says tons about the lay perception of nursing.
Hey, don't feel bad, we all have bad days, especially when new. When I was a nursing student (19 years ago) I tried to remove a dressing around a biliary tube drain, it was taking to long to get the dressing and tape off so I decided to cut the dressing. What i didn't realize was that the drain tube was looped under the dressing and I cut it clean off, I had already had probs that day, letting an IV go dry and being written up for having a blood drop on my nursing shoes ( rolling eyes) so I freaked. Thank God my preceptor saw me in tears cuz I thought he was going to have to have an new drain put in and I was going to flunk my clinical. She showed me how to cut both ends of the tube and basically screw them together to repair until it was removed the next day. Sometimes I think it is the actual preceptor of instructor that makes us have brain farts cuz they make us nervous. And once you make one mistake an avalanche is not far behind due to nervousness when you are first starting off in the field. You got a thank you so you must be doing ok!!
Kellie
not really. Read my other post in "first year nursing"
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
...and being written up for having a blood drop on my nursing shoes ( rolling eyes)...
OOOOH so bad to write you up for that!!! How about just drawing it to your attention, I bet she has never had, um, stuff on her shoes... AHEM!
Sometimes I think it is the actual preceptor of instructor that makes us have brain farts cuz they make us nervous]/QUOTE]
I was convinced back then that they enjoyed that (1981). Maybe some of what I thought they thought was projected, I don't know. The instructors that helped the most were the ones who admitted that they were fallible, yet how serious nursing was.
I've gotten a few cards specifically addressed to me after caring for LTC residents through difficult deaths. these feel great, validating. Not that my aim is to receive them, just real nice when you're feeling drained. Recharges your batteries.
a man failed a stress test and was admitted for a cath . he was 75 yrs old and was accompanied by his adult daughter. so i put in a lock, drew bloodwork, showed the video, gave explanantions, talked about risk factors and made sure he was ok with all this as it was rather rushed and unexpected for him. at the end of the day the daughter asked if she could hug me. heck yes. that conveyed her gratitude and i was tickled pink.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I've gotten a few cards specifically addressed to me after caring for LTC residents through difficult deaths. these feel great, validating. Not that my aim is to receive them, just real nice when you're feeling drained. Recharges your batteries.
Yes, it IS nice. BTW did you find yourself yet??? Seeing you with that fish tells me somehow that you have, or at least are well on your way! So many times nurses forget to make time to relax and smell the ... um, fish...
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
a man failed a stress test and was admitted for a cath . he was 75 yrs old and was accompanied by his adult daughter. so i put in a lock, drew bloodwork, showed the video, gave explanantions, talked about risk factors and made sure he was ok with all this as it was rather rushed and unexpected for him. at the end of the day the daughter asked if she could hug me. heck yes. that conveyed her gratitude and i was tickled pink.
Gratitude, from whatever source, is the one single thing that keeps me going. The food is fine, the verbals are awesome, but I keep the cards that have been given to me personally. When I go through a trying time (with admin or other), I just take a card out and reread it. It reminds me again that I do make a difference--why I am here and why I do what I do.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Gratitude, from whatever source, is the one single thing that keeps me going. The food is fine, the verbals are awesome, but I keep the cards that have been given to me personally. When I go through a trying time (with admin or other), I just take a card out and reread it. It reminds me again that I do make a difference--why I am here and why I do what I do.
Yep!
I also like it when I go to a new place of work, and see cards taped to the door or wherever on the unit - you get a "flavor" of what it's like to work there and what kinds of nurses are there. It is also a picker upper like you said... why we're here - it's for the patients!
ZASHAGALKA, RN
3,322 Posts
Last night I had a patient tell me that I was: "A doctor in his book". Meant as a high compliment, I know.
But as I'm considering at this time the respect and contributions of nurses, I found myself conceding to the intent of the compliment much more than the actual words. If I had taken the words at face value, I'm afraid I would have been insulted.
Memorable? Yes. The intent was one of the highest compliments I have received.
But, it also says tons about the lay perception of nursing.
~faith,
Timothy.