Thank you's - memorable ones you've received?

Nurses Relations

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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

believe in ourselves as valued and gifted people.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Two nights ago the son of one of my patients hung around until after I was done with report at 2230 to give me a tube of Crabtree and Evelyn hand lotion. He said, "I know what with you being night shift you probably don't get too many thankyous" which was really thoughtful of him.

It made my night. Nay, my week.

aww, that's sweet :)

Specializes in NICU.
Two nights ago the son of one of my patients hung around until after I was done with report at 2230 to give me a tube of Crabtree and Evelyn hand lotion. He said, "I know what with you being night shift you probably don't get too many thankyous" which was really thoughtful of him.

It made my night. Nay, my week.

That is really sweet. I love it when patients (well in my case, patients' families) acknowledge all the shifts. We've had some do things like buy three fruit or bakery baskets with separate thank you cards, each with a strict order to set out during the middle of each of the shifts. Some even go through the trouble of arranging three pizza deliveries (one at noon, one at 6pm, one at midnight) so that all shifts get fresh pizzas. It's just really special when they recognize that we work around the clock to care for our patients.

And it's also nice when the gifts are thoughtful, practical things we can use at work like that hand lotion! As I mentioned before, that nursing tote bag I recieved was such a sweet gift and it was so practical. I am so proud when I carry it through the hospital for all to see.

Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

The parent of the baby I mentioned earlier heard me talking about getting my son ready for school and gave me a really nice Jansport backpack for him--way more expensive than I would have bought!

They were a terrific family.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
That is really sweet. I love it when patients (well in my case, patients' families) acknowledge all the shifts. We've had some do things like buy three fruit or bakery baskets with separate thank you cards, each with a strict order to set out during the middle of each of the shifts. Some even go through the trouble of arranging three pizza deliveries (one at noon, one at 6pm, one at midnight) so that all shifts get fresh pizzas. It's just really special when they recognize that we work around the clock to care for our patients.

And it's also nice when the gifts are thoughtful, practical things we can use at work like that hand lotion! As I mentioned before, that nursing tote bag I recieved was such a sweet gift and it was so practical. I am so proud when I carry it through the hospital for all to see.

Yeah! that's when we know they REALLY love us, sending pizza for all THREE shifts! mmmm... lol

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
The parent of the baby I mentioned earlier heard me talking about getting my son ready for school and gave me a really nice Jansport backpack for him--way more expensive than I would have bought!

They were a terrific family.

Cool!

Specializes in school nursing.

The most memorable thank you I have had so far was from a patient in my med / surg clinical. After a running battle all morning with everyone up the ladder it was discovered that this "student nurse" really had discovered a medication error and was dead right refusing to follow the miss transcribed Dr's order (which would have been fatal if I gave the med to my patient in her condition). The Dr was called to the patient's room to confirm his order - and when the mess was fixed said to the patient that my tenacity had saved her life that day. Her gift to me was that before I fed her her lunch she said grace over her food - and thanked God for sending her me to be her nurse in her hour of need. The fact that she mentioned me to God and called me HER nurse was the greatest gift a patient could give a student. I felt that I had found my true calling at last.

Specializes in NICU.
The most memorable thank you I have had so far was from a patient in my med / surg clinical. After a running battle all morning with everyone up the ladder it was discovered that this "student nurse" really had discovered a medication error and was dead right refusing to follow the miss transcribed Dr's order (which would have been fatal if I gave the med to my patient in her condition). The Dr was called to the patient's room to confirm his order - and when the mess was fixed said to the patient that my tenacity had saved her life that day. Her gift to me was that before I fed her her lunch she said grace over her food - and thanked God for sending her me to be her nurse in her hour of need. The fact that she mentioned me to God and called me HER nurse was the greatest gift a patient could give a student. I felt that I had found my true calling at last.

That's one of the reasons I love being a nurse. There is such pride that comes with caring for other people. A lot of times my friends with (dreadfully) boring office jobs will pity me for having to work nights, weekends, holidays, long shifts, etc. But at the same time, I only wish I could tell them that I actually pity THEM because there is no way that their "normal" 9-5 jobs will EVER give them the kind of pride and satisfaction that I get from my "crazy" job.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
The most memorable thank you I have had so far was from a patient in my med / surg clinical.,,,The fact that she mentioned me to God and called me HER nurse was the greatest gift a patient could give a student. I felt that I had found my true calling at last.

Way to go!

I nearly got fired from a job because I "took too long" checking the MAR's (medication administration records) before putting them in for the new month. Come to find out people were NOT checking them against the Dr's orders but just the previous month's MAR's. I told them what the problem was but they didn't care - amazing...

I ended up out on a medical leave, partly because of the way they were harassing me (the DON had the ***** to tell me I was LAZY) - when I was doing chart checks for two other people - eh, hard to explain, just that I was trying to do my job by the book, as well as doing extra when I could - and I essentially got put down for it.

But the best thing was that I knew I was doing a good job - they couldn't take THAT from me - and that was worth all the thanks that I DIDn't get...

xoxo

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
That's one of the reasons I love being a nurse. There is such pride that comes with caring for other people. A lot of times my friends with (dreadfully) boring office jobs will pity me for having to work nights, weekends, holidays, long shifts, etc. But at the same time, I only wish I could tell them that I actually pity THEM because there is no way that their "normal" 9-5 jobs will EVER give them the kind of pride and satisfaction that I get from my "crazy" job.

Amen, too true =- we are never bored, are we?

I had taken care of a pt with mets cancer for weeks on med/surg. Every morning that I worked I did her bath, hair and helped her apply makeup just so she could feel normal when in fact she was dying. She was NPO but I would take mouth sponges and dip them in sprite just so she could get a little relief. I don't think she got much liquid off of those. The day she died I went into her room and went about her bath, fixing her hair and at this point I was applying her makeup. She grabbed my hand and asked "Are you Rose's granddaughter?" I replied that I was. I had seen her for weeks but she had never mentioned my grandma - we look soooooo much alike that strangers and pts have asked me this question. My grandma died a few years ago but this pt said "Rosie would be so proud of you. You've become a wonderful nurse. I look forward to when you walk into the room." I had to remind the pt that I was an aide, not a nurse yet. She patted my hand and said "but you will be." She started tearing up (me too) and talked about how I was all my grandma would talk about when they played cards. We shot the breeze about my life and hers. I leaned over and my tattoo flashed - a half moon which means rebirth (important to me after an abusive relationship) and she wanted to see it closer. I explained what the moon meant to me. She held her arms out for a hug and I gave her one. She patted my back and said "you will make a wonderful nurse. I know it and you're grandma knows it. Thank you for all the care you gave me. You were always patient and kind." She died after my shift. A few days after her death her daughter somewhat hesitantly asks me if I'm Elizabeth. I reply yes and she holds out a small box. I wait for the daughter to leave before I open it. Inside is a pendant in the shape of a half moon. Somehow her words were more of a gift to me than the actual physical gift of the pendant.

That's one of the reasons I love being a nurse. There is such pride that comes with caring for other people. A lot of times my friends with (dreadfully) boring office jobs will pity me for having to work nights, weekends, holidays, long shifts, etc. But at the same time, I only wish I could tell them that I actually pity THEM because there is no way that their "normal" 9-5 jobs will EVER give them the kind of pride and satisfaction that I get from my "crazy" job.

I couldn't agree more. I pity the people who sit behind desks day in and day out doing the same thing. Have you seen the Navy commercial with a guy at an auto dealership with a voice over that says "just think-some poor bastard is buying a minivan." That's what I think when I think of my job vs. a desk job. Some poor bastard is sitting behind a desk shuffling papers and I get the adrenaline rush.

Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
She patted my back and said "you will make a wonderful nurse. I know it and you're grandma knows it. Thank you for all the care you gave me. You were always patient and kind." She died after my shift. A few days after her death her daughter somewhat hesitantly asks me if I'm Elizabeth. I reply yes and she holds out a small box. I wait for the daughter to leave before I open it. Inside is a pendant in the shape of a half moon. Somehow her words were more of a gift to me than the actual physical gift of the pendant.

Wow, that is awesome... thanks Beth :)

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