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
Every had a day where you "felt the Power of the Holy Spirit" wash over you? {My gf used to tell me about this}. I finally did & this was my day!
Setting: Last day of clinicals... & my last day of my last semester.
My nurse/preceptor must float to Ortho this day... which pisses her off, but thrills & excites me! We are going to be team nursing & she has 6-8 patients (short staffed). I am to co-nurse with her. This is okay with me, as I had never worked Ortho !
I did a lot of therapeutic nursing this day. Then it happened...
I got a thank u I will NEVER forget. It was getting close to the end of my shift. We had a homeless guy that had been assaulted & was stable & now ready for d/c. However, he was refusing to find placement (he couldn't wk q-1m b/c of head injury). He had a list, had gone through it & was claiming to have had no luck. Well, I began working w/him & found other resources + had spoken to his case wker.
{But still, I could see this man was so lost & lonely......}
I returned to his rm, knocked, walked in & asked if he had any luck. "No" was his reply. I decided... time to to follow my heart (I said a silent pray to God asking his assistance with guidence) & to get to the heart of his problem. I ask him... how are u dealing with what has happened to you (I had gotten sorted details earlier)? "Not well", he replied. I take a deep breath & ask "do you have a belief in a Higher Being? You know, like God or Budda or something such like that?" "I believe in God" he says. Relieved I begin to relax (he wasn't offended) & the words just started coming to me.. {I swear they did!}
"I know right now that you don't think that anyone loves or cares about you, but there is somebody that always loves & cares about you: God. He is always there for you, no matter what. And these nurses here, they all love & care about you. B/c if they didn't, they wouldn't be here. Just as I love & care about you. As I do all of my patients! I know that you have been through a lot & you are probably questioning a lot about your life, God & what happened, ect. But I am here to say: You survived this assault for a reason & the reason is that b/c u still have work to do here on this earth!
Yes, I believe in God, as you do. & I believe that b4 we come to this world, we lay out a plan for our lives. And I believe it is only when we have accomplished our goals, that we are allowed to move on to be with God. Me, I have to believe this, b/c I (like u) have had a lot in both my life & in my pathway to become a nurse". Then I ask him "have you ever thought about what u would like to do?" He then says "I have been thinking a lot about this & I think maybe I want to work in a hospital." {I beamed! Wow, he has thought about this!}. I explore more about this, tell him how he could start researching this possiblity, ect.
Our conversation probably lasted 15-20 minutes. We talked about a lot of things (that I later found out were textbook). As I was ending our conversation I asked him "can I give you a hug?" "Yes, of course!" he says. I gave him the BIGGEST hug & then got him to agree to think about what we had discussed & make him promise to work harder on finding a place to live & to contact a local support system we identified together. He agrees. I went to walk out & stopped to say to him "thank you for being my last patient as a student nurse." No, it is you I must thank" he says. "Thank you for being my nurse."
I walked out of his room with a lump in my throat. I gave report, gathered my things & choked back the tears to keep myself from crying all the way out to my car. Then I bawled............
Footnote:
I later discovered during preparation for presentation of my case study (oral) to my Instructor that I had done nearly every intervention (except 2)that was necessary for the diagnosis that I had given my patient!
As a new nurse, I worked on a sub-acute unit doing wound care. One of my patients was a young girl with truly horrific wounds, which she'd had for the past four years, due to a chronic disease process. We spent at least an hour a day together, that's how long the wound care took. Got to know each other very well. Got to know her family pretty well. It was a lot of ups and downs, she was sometimes difficult, but I could understand why. This went on for over a year, then I left to go to another job. I heard several months later that she died suddenly during an OR procedure. Very amazed at how much that affected me. Sent the family a sympathy card, hoping they would even remember me............. it had been a while.
So, the day before Christmas, I got an envelope. It was from her family. A beautiful card said "Thank you for taking care of our daughter. You are a real sweetheart". Also enclosed was a tribute CD they had made, with songs and recordings of the family from Christmas past. To hear her voice, well, I just lost it. It was the most special thank you I have ever gotten, and will probably always be.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I recently admitted a patient whose wife (he's non-verbal), upon hearing my name, said, "oh my God, you're Jen? Mrs X said you were her favorite!" Turns out a former patient had been her husbands roommate at a care facility and his mother had shared with her how much she liked me. When her husband had to come to our floor she was "hoping to see me." I was amazed.
Every had a day where you "felt the Power of the Holy Spirit" wash over you? {My gf used to tell me about this}. I finally did & this was my day! ...
"I know right now that you don't think that anyone loves or cares about you, but there is somebody that always loves & cares about you: God. ...
...I went to walk out & stopped to say to him "thank you for being my last patient as a student nurse." No, it is you I must thank" he says. "Thank you for being my nurse."
Sometimes all you need is to be reminded that God loves you (yes this is my own belief). I forget it all the time when I am sludging through ... Thank God for the people He sends my way just to tap me on the shoulder and remind me :)
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
... I left to go to another job. I heard several months later that she died suddenly during an OR procedure. Very amazed at how much that affected me. ... enclosed was a tribute CD they had made, with songs and recordings of the family from Christmas past. To hear her voice, well, I just lost it. It was the most special thank you I have ever gotten, and will probably always be.
That's neat that they did that ... Yep, I think I would have lost it too!
...have to chuckle, you say it's too bad I left, and here is how I could have avoided it, and then you say you left ...
Well, yes, I am going to leave. But I've been doing it for ten years and my back is not what it used to be. Nursing takes a physical toll on all of us.
But I am not "leaving" nursing, I am going a route that will let me do more good.
Your having to leave jobs is part of "following" the rules. You had the courage to do so...many do not.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
...have to chuckle, you say it's too bad I left, and here is how I could have avoided it, and then you say you left ...
Well, yes, I am going to leave. But I've been doing it for ten years and my back is not what it used to be. Nursing takes a physical toll on all of us.
But I am not "leaving" nursing, I am going a route that will let me do more good.
Your having to leave jobs is part of "following" the rules. You had the courage to do so...many do not.
I hope that your new career direction works well for you - nursing, and nurses, are in trouble, as you see - I hope you can make a difference for them and for you!
I was working in the home of a high school classmate who had Hunter's. He was having an especially bad day, cussing, hitting, biting, etc. I was at my wits end. His dad was yelling at him to stop abusing me. That was making matters worse. I asked dad to go out and get a breath of fresh air, run errands, or what ever he needed to do. He came back a couple hours later and all was quieter. As I left my shift and went to my car, I noticed a dozen roses and a card in the seat of my car letting me know how much I am appreciated and even on the tough days we will make it.
Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I was working in the home of a high school classmate who had Hunter's. He was having an especially bad day, cussing, hitting, biting, etc. I was at my wits end. His dad was yelling at him to stop abusing me. That was making matters worse. I asked dad to go out and get a breath of fresh air, run errands, or what ever he needed to do. He came back a couple hours later and all was quieter. As I left my shift and went to my car, I noticed a dozen roses and a card in the seat of my car letting me know how much I am appreciated and even on the tough days we will make it.
Wow, you would have thought that with him stressing like that, he might only have been thinking of his son, or his own trouble. Instead, he thought of you (and I'm sure he noticed that when we care for people, we care for their families too)...
A while ago, I took care of a patient - 84 years old, blind, hard of hearing, extensive cardiac history and other issues. He had a Fx of his L hip... but surgery couldn't be done because his Plt. count was 28! :eek: :eek:
For four full days, the docs and hematologist pumped him with all kinds of funky drugs and steroids. I took care of him for those four days - he was the gentlest human being. Despite his obvious pain and discomfort (and partial dementia), he'd always brighten up when I came into his room.
He liked telling dirty jokes and I indulged him - sharing a few I'd heard in the Cadet Corps. We'd share a chuckle and a laugh whilst going over his assessment. I grew to like him - and his daughter too.
He was then put on some medication to bring up his blood counts. It was apparent that his daughter didn't fully know/understand what his condition was - especially after I asked her. When she claimed absolute ignorance of the significance of the drugs and her Father's condition, I pleaded with her to stay and extra half-hour and grab hold of me then - while I got done with part of my shift. I then worked my butt off to get my stuff done and asked my peers to watch my patients for a while - and then went off to the Lounge to talk with daughter in private. I sat and explained the risks her Dad was facing - especially with his immobility, steroid treatment, poor lung and cardiac function, cardiac history, lab results and his Fx'd hip. I told her that the longer treatment was delayed, the greater the chances that her Father could not make it alive - this was especially delicate considering that he was a DNR. I emphasized that treatment such as these take time - especially in the elderly with lowered body functions anyways. After much discussion, I ended by saying that my sole purpose in having this "chat" was to give her an idea of the "big picture" and that I believed, as she was the POHCA, she deserved and had a right to know and have explained anything and everything that was going on.
The weekend rolled over and I had the weekend off. I admit that I was pessimistic about his prognosis - hip fractures with low blood and platelet counts do not last very long I came back on Monday to find out that he was still on the floor!! What??!! No surgery yet?! What surprised me further was that he was now restless, combative and abusive - biting, spitting and punching.
My hopes about a positive outcome sank further...
I was crest fallen. I'd genuinely grown to like the guy. His mental ideation was sad and the staff's conviction that he wouldn't "last too long" was worse. As a veteran, he and I had found much to discuss over the days. I went through that week, keeping him at the back of my mind all along.
He finally had improved blood counts and was finally taken to surgery - from which he recovered, successfully; with a new hip. I was elated when I heard the news - he was going back to his nursing home! :)
However, I read the obituaries a few weeks later to learn that he had passed on - peacefully - in his sleep. I took that news a bit hard - surprised that a "random stranger" could affect me so much.
His daughter came around a few days later - to thank all those who had worked with her Father. I just gave her a hug and told her how sorry and sad I was that he'd passed on. She smiled and told me that "Dad thought you were a gentle, funny soul. He liked you. Thank you for all that you tried, for taking every patience with us and your diligence and vigilance to your task. It meant a lot to me - and to Dad".
This was actually a month or so ago - and I still think of Thomas L.
:eek: 
I came back on Monday to find out that he was still on the floor!! What??!! No surgery yet?! What surprised me further was that he was now restless, combative and abusive - biting, spitting and punching.
wannabemw
284 Posts
Want a story? Okay, here's another one.
Warning: strong religious content! Lengthy too!
-I hope I don't offend anyone. {But remember these are my beliefs!} -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Every had a day where you "felt the Power of the Holy Spirit" wash over you? {My gf used to tell me about this}. I finally did & this was my day!
Setting: Last day of clinicals... & my last day of my last semester.
My nurse/preceptor must float to Ortho this day... which pisses her off, but thrills & excites me!
We are going to be team nursing & she has 6-8 patients (short staffed). I am to co-nurse with her. This is okay with me, as I had never worked Ortho !
I did a lot of therapeutic nursing this day. Then it happened...
I got a thank u I will NEVER forget. It was getting close to the end of my shift. We had a homeless guy that had been assaulted & was stable & now ready for d/c. However, he was refusing to find placement (he couldn't wk q-1m b/c of head injury). He had a list, had gone through it & was claiming to have had no luck. Well, I began working w/him & found other resources + had spoken to his case wker.
{But still, I could see this man was so lost & lonely......}
I returned to his rm, knocked, walked in & asked if he had any luck. "No" was his reply. I decided... time to to follow my heart (I said a silent pray to God asking his assistance with guidence) & to get to the heart of his problem. I ask him... how are u dealing with what has happened to you (I had gotten sorted details earlier)? "Not well", he replied. I take a deep breath & ask "do you have a belief in a Higher Being? You know, like God or Budda or something such like that?" "I believe in God" he says. Relieved I begin to relax (he wasn't offended) & the words just started coming to me.. {I swear they did!}
"I know right now that you don't think that anyone loves or cares about you, but there is somebody that always loves & cares about you: God. He is always there for you, no matter what. And these nurses here, they all love & care about you. B/c if they didn't, they wouldn't be here. Just as I love & care about you. As I do all of my patients! I know that you have been through a lot & you are probably questioning a lot about your life, God & what happened, ect. But I am here to say: You survived this assault for a reason & the reason is that b/c u still have work to do here on this earth!
Yes, I believe in God, as you do. & I believe that b4 we come to this world, we lay out a plan for our lives. And I believe it is only when we have accomplished our goals, that we are allowed to move on to be with God. Me, I have to believe this, b/c I (like u) have had a lot in both my life & in my pathway to become a nurse". Then I ask him "have you ever thought about what u would like to do?" He then says "I have been thinking a lot about this & I think maybe I want to work in a hospital." {I beamed! Wow, he has thought about this!}. I explore more about this, tell him how he could start researching this possiblity, ect.
Our conversation probably lasted 15-20 minutes. We talked about a lot of things (that I later found out were textbook). As I was ending our conversation I asked him "can I give you a hug?" "Yes, of course!" he says. I gave him the BIGGEST hug & then got him to agree to think about what we had discussed & make him promise to work harder on finding a place to live & to contact a local support system we identified together. He agrees. I went to walk out & stopped to say to him "thank you for being my last patient as a student nurse." No, it is you I must thank" he says. "Thank you for being my nurse."
I walked out of his room with a lump in my throat. I gave report, gathered my things & choked back the tears to keep myself from crying all the way out to my car. Then I bawled............
Footnote:
I later discovered during preparation for presentation of my case study (oral) to my Instructor that I had done nearly every intervention (except 2)that was necessary for the diagnosis that I had given my patient!
{Needless to say, she gave me an "A."}