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
ok this one isn't so dramatic, but felt good anyway. a girl spent a long time coloring this picture and ended up giving it to me. this was a quiet, shy kiddo who on another admit told me she thought i was "the nicest one". I can't explain why this one meant so much.
then another awesome older kid i had this morning, just a neat person, to clarify has a chronic illness and multiple hospitalizations. kind of kidding around said "i like you. can you stay and take care of me all day??" aw I would have loved to. how do you answer those kind of questions.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
ok this one isn't so dramatic, but felt good anyway. a girl spent a long time coloring this picture and ended up giving it to me. this was a quiet, shy kiddo who on another admit told me she thought i was "the nicest one". I can't explain why this one meant so much.
then another awesome older kid i had this morning, just a neat person, to clarify has a chronic illness and multiple hospitalizations. kind of kidding around said "i like you. can you stay and take care of me all day??" aw I would have loved to. how do you answer those kind of questions.
I love kids, and they don't fool around, if they like you you know it (Unfortunately the opposite is true too!)
I admire you being able to work in peds, kids are tough when they are sick. And I know my heart would break when they were in pain or the family despaired of any hope And then the kids dying, it shouldn't be that way!!!! Though I am a Christian it is still impossible for me to understand that ...
My condolences to anyone reading who has lost a child.. xoxoxo
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...
Hi Zoe. This fish was caught by my SO at the cottage. His first time fishing. We should all go fishing, maybe that's the secret to happiness.
I'm still looking for myself. I'm thinking I'll be found if I change my area of specialty in nursing.
Here's a story that took 20 years to unfold. I was a young Navy Nurse assigned to a small hospital overseas. 20 years later, I reported in to my new command and discovered my Commanding Officer had been stationed at the small hospital at the same time. At his daughter's wedding, his wife came to me to thank me for being so kind to her when this daughter was born! I was amazed - and to think after all those years.
Perhaps the most important lesson here is that I don't remember treating her any differently than any of my other patients. So we may never know how many we have touched just by "doing our job".
Thanks to all of you for all you do for every patient and family, everyday.
A little boy, 5-6 years old, was brought into the ER with a lacerated thumb. (He was brought by his mother) He was afraid of needles and the whole hospital setting. I got down on his level and talked with him and took his attention off what the Dr was doing. I had him hold my hand and told him if it hurt to squeeze it. I made funny remarks that he was breaking my fingers, he was so strong, etc.. Before he knew it the Dr was finished and I was bandaging his thumb. I had also found out that he liked stickers and brought him some. I also took him something to drink when everything was done.
I was lucky enough to be working when his mom brought him back in to have the stitches removed. His mom caught me outside of his room and thanked me for helping that day. She also said that her son wanted to see me. When I stepped into his room he smiled from ear to ear. When I walked up to him he stood up on the bed and reached his arms out to me to give me a hug.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Hi Zoe. This fish was caught by my SO at the cottage. His first time fishing. We should all go fishing, maybe that's the secret to happiness.
I'm still looking for myself. I'm thinking I'll be found if I change my area of specialty in nursing.
Hi adrienurse - well, I did just about everything but peds and OB, didn't help me for long, I would always get restless and move on. Agency worked well for me for this reason! I appreciated being able to say, "I don't have to take this" (to myself of course) and just move to the next assignment!! Or, I could return to the ones I really liked...
"The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails."
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Here's a story that took 20 years to unfold. I was a young Navy Nurse assigned to a small hospital overseas. 20 years later, I reported in to my new command and discovered my Commanding Officer had been stationed at the small hospital at the same time. At his daughter's wedding, his wife came to me to thank me for being so kind to her when this daughter was born! I was amazed - and to think after all those years.
Perhaps the most important lesson here is that I don't remember treating her any differently than any of my other patients. So we may never know how many we have touched just by "doing our job".
Thanks to all of you for all you do for every patient and family, everyday.
Very cool :) Well, I still remember the nurse who took care of me when I was about 5, she "took my scare away" lol -- and influenced my decision to be a nurse!
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
... I was lucky enough to be working when his mom brought him back in to have the stitches removed. His mom caught me outside of his room and thanked me for helping that day. She also said that her son wanted to see me. When I stepped into his room he smiled from ear to ear. When I walked up to him he stood up on the bed and reached his arms out to me to give me a hug.
Many of my pts have their own way of saying thank you
I love when I have a pt who doesnt speak any english and you finish caring for them and you hear them say thank you. It touches me each time.
The other day I had a pt who has been in and out of the hospital and is now pallitive. He was unresponsive for a few days. Another nurse and I went to turn him.His family was at the bedside and he was awake. I was checking out his catheter and he hadnt seen me yet. He started to ask for me. His family said that I was there. He had a big smile on his face and grabbed my hand. I was so touched that he remembered me . It was all the thanks that I needed and it let me know that I was doing a good job. I had another pt say to me out of all the nurses you are the one I remember. These little things make you remember why you became a nurse. It encourages you when the shift gets rough.
Specializes in psych,emergency,telemetry,home health.
i work in psychiatry and one night we got a pt with dementia.we tried to redirect her the best way we can.there was another pt awake that time and i was surprised that she handed me a small paper.when i read it, it says you are doing a great job in handling my co-pt.until now, i am still keeping it because i feel like i am really an RN.
As a new nurse, of course I always tried my hardest but sometimes wondered if it was good enough. I had this patient that nobody believed his pain, just wrote it off as a grumpy old man, medication seeker. I had him for two days. After explaining to the resident and getting nowhere, I went to the attending who changed his medication which made all the difference. He wrote the nicest letter about me to my manager and even came by one day with a big hug, kiss and an offer to go to lunch in the cafeteria (yeah right, take lunch??). It made me feel really good as a new nurse.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Many of my pts have their own way of saying thank you
I love when I have a pt who doesnt speak any english and you finish caring for them and you hear them say thank you. It touches me each time.
The other day I had a pt who has been in and out of the hospital and is now pallitive. He was unresponsive for a few days. Another nurse and I went to turn him.His family was at the bedside and he was awake. I was checking out his catheter and he hadnt seen me yet. He started to ask for me. His family said that I was there. He had a big smile on his face and grabbed my hand. I was so touched that he remembered me . It was all the thanks that I needed and it let me know that I was doing a good job. I had another pt say to me out of all the nurses you are the one I remember. These little things make you remember why you became a nurse. It encourages you when the shift gets rough.
And then the kids dying, it shouldn't be that way!!!! Though I am a Christian it is still impossible for me to understand that 
perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN
1,016 Posts
ok this one isn't so dramatic, but felt good anyway. a girl spent a long time coloring this picture and ended up giving it to me. this was a quiet, shy kiddo who on another admit told me she thought i was "the nicest one". I can't explain why this one meant so much.
then another awesome older kid i had this morning, just a neat person, to clarify has a chronic illness and multiple hospitalizations. kind of kidding around said "i like you. can you stay and take care of me all day??" aw I would have loved to. how do you answer those kind of questions.