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
WOW,..am new here,..actually this is my very first post and what a great way to start,..the stories are awsome,..it is always a great feeling when someone recognizes you for doing what I think caused most of us to become Nurses,..to make people feel better,...all the education, experience,technical skills et titles in the world can never substitute for a genuine caring for your patients!! !:kiss
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
WOW,..am new here,..actually this is my very first post and what a great way to start,..the stories are awsome,..it is always a great feeling when someone recognizes you for doing what I think caused most of us to become Nurses,..to make people feel better,...all the education, experience,technical skills et titles in the world can never substitute for a genuine caring for your patients!! !:kiss
RN-Cardiac - WELCOME! and glad to see you on this thread
You are so right, I would rather know someone cares, it's hard to feel confident in a nurse who treats you like a machine ...
Got another appreciation again last night at work. One of the patients I had was the same patient I had last week who kept thanking me for my support while she had a really painful dressing change. When I went on my rounds last night, she remembered me and told everyone in her room about me being there for her when she needed it the most. Just made me feel so good. =D
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Got another appreciation again last night at work. One of the patients I had was the same patient I had last week who kept thanking me for my support while she had a really painful dressing change. When I went on my rounds last night, she remembered me and told everyone in her room about me being there for her when she needed it the most. Just made me feel so good. =D
Had a young girl (well, she was in her 20s) who became a quad thanks to making some poor choices and ending up as an unrestrained passenger in an MVA. She was on our floor for a while, and regained some (very little) movement in one hand, and a very small amount of gross motor movement in an arm. I was one of the last nurses to take care of her while she was with us -she was being transferred to another facility closer to home. She requested (through her mom) that I be there when they came to take her, and I told her that I could not -I was going on a short vacation -a hunting trip.
When I came back to work, she had left a note for me. It was a "thank you" that she had managed to write (in large wobbly letters) and a plea to save a few pieces of chocolate for me (the mother had left a box for the floor). I still have the original note.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Had a young girl (well, she was in her 20s) who became a quad thanks to making some poor choices and ending up as an unrestrained passenger in an MVA. She was on our floor for a while, and regained some (very little) movement in one hand, and a very small amount of gross motor movement in an arm. I was one of the last nurses to take care of her while she was with us -she was being transferred to another facility closer to home. She requested (through her mom) that I be there when they came to take her, and I told her that I could not -I was going on a short vacation -a hunting trip.
When I came back to work, she had left a note for me. It was a "thank you" that she had managed to write (in large wobbly letters) and a plea to save a few pieces of chocolate for me (the mother had left a box for the floor). I still have the original note.
(grin) well, I may not have the years, but I certainly have the mileage (especially the wear and tear) to bolster the claim :)
Just got home from thanksgiving dinner w/pappy, and man is it COLD out! Yes, a blistering 49 degrees F. -ok, probably nothing compared to Maine, but for Florida its downright 'stay at home' weather! :)
Hope everyones' thanksgiving was safe and enjoyable.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
(grin) well, I may not have the years, but I certainly have the mileage (especially the wear and tear) to bolster the claim :)
Just got home from thanksgiving dinner w/pappy, and man is it COLD out! Yes, a blistering 49 degrees F. -ok, probably nothing compared to Maine, but for Florida its downright 'stay at home' weather! :)
Hope everyones' thanksgiving was safe and enjoyable.
Thanks Gromit! I had a nice day :)
49 actually is close to what we're running some days, it hasn't been all that bad yet. (Ulp, now the snow god's gonna get me...)
I had a patient that was admitted from a general floor for respiratory distress. He was a lung CA patient, but was in the best of spirits! He was on constant a 6Lo2 and couldnt be without it. I took care of him for 4 days and loved being his nurse. We talked and he quickly became one of my favorite patients. He and his family were the most kind and positive people. THe am before his D/C i found him walking in the hall and noticed right away that he did not have his oxygen on and quickly tried to walk him back to his room. Before we got back to the room he went limp and started to fall. My little body held that 200LB man up while screaming for help like it was my own father. He came to with O2 and I was just so scared for him. He was ok and we took him to the room and he silently cried and said he never realized how weak and vulnerable he was. It brought tears to my eyes to see his realization and his sadness. Before he left, he told me that I was one of the best people he ever knew and to never change. I was sad to leave him, knowing that I might never see him again, but happy he was going home to be where he needed to be. He was actually readmitted a few months later and I was assigned to him. I walked in and though very weak, looked at me and said hey look its my favorite nurse. Ill never forget him, he was a very special patient.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
... He was ok and we took him to the room and he silently cried and said he never realized how weak and vulnerable he was. It brought tears to my eyes to see his realization and his sadness...
BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN
1,236 Posts
WOW,..am new here,..actually this is my very first post and what a great way to start,..the stories are awsome,..it is always a great feeling when someone recognizes you for doing what I think caused most of us to become Nurses,..to make people feel better,...all the education, experience,technical skills et titles in the world can never substitute for a genuine caring for your patients!! !:kiss