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..
One of the RNs bought Starbuck's for everybody on the station. I wasn't expecting to be included because I'm 1. a student 2. very quiet, but I ended up with a very nice cup of chai ^_^ Quite lovely on a difficult shift.

One of my residents had been upset for several days about her un-styled hair, so I stayed late and set it for her - and got hugged several times for it :D

Mmm, chai - only trouble is it goes down too fast LOL - yes as a student I didn't expect to be included - so when I was an RN I made sure to try to include them as an essential part of the team, after all, THEY ARE!

That was cool about you helping the lady style her hair. I went recently to the hosp to visit a lady (34) who had had a stroke and helped her wash her hair, it made all the difference. The simple things!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I had surgery a few years ago, and a co-worker came in and shampoo'd my hair-it felt sooo good. It was worth the pain of bending over!

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Being a Hospice nurse, I have recieved many thank yous from family of patients for taking care of their loved one like they were my own family member, but the most special was from the pt I cared for that had been semi comatose for several days. When I went to see her on a routine visit, she opened her eyes and told me that she knew she would die that day and had been waiting for me. She told me that I had made a difference in her life by caring for her at the most important time in her life and thanked me for taking the time to sit with her just because she was afraid and that she was no longer afraid because I had kept my promise to her that I would not let her suffer. She died peacefully later that evening. It was difficult because I was the nurse on call. Just knowing that I can make a difference is what keeps me going.

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I had surgery a few years ago, and a co-worker came in and shampoo'd my hair-it felt sooo good. It was worth the pain of bending over!

Mmmm sweet!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Being a Hospice nurse, I have recieved many thank yous from family of patients for taking care of their loved one like they were my own family member, but the most special was from the pt I cared for that had been semi comatose for several days. When I went to see her on a routine visit, she opened her eyes and told me that she knew she would die that day and had been waiting for me. She told me that I had made a difference in her life by caring for her at the most important time in her life and thanked me for taking the time to sit with her just because she was afraid and that she was no longer afraid because I had kept my promise to her that I would not let her suffer. She died peacefully later that evening. It was difficult because I was the nurse on call. Just knowing that I can make a difference is what keeps me going.

Big hugs for you - she was very privileged!

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nursing is a sacred profession

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I just completed my first semester in nursing school. My last clinical was the most memorable. I had a patient who was a school teacher. She talked my ear off and I enjoyed every moment with her. I even gaver her an insulin shot. It was my first time and she said I did a good job. I was happy. We had a blast together and before I left. She said thank you, gave me a big hug, and said you will be a great nurse. Those words touched my heart and it puts all the studying into perspective. Suddenly, sleep deprivation and the miniminal amount of social time seems worth it when you can make a difference. Now I am recuperating for another exciting semester!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
nursing is a sacred profession

Hi Ramya, welcome to the board! I agree, it is such a privilege and honor to be able to care for people the way that we do :)

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I just completed my first semester in nursing school. My last clinical was the most memorable. I had a patient who was a school teacher. She talked my ear off and I enjoyed every moment with her. I even gaver her an insulin shot. It was my first time and she said I did a good job. I was happy. We had a blast together and before I left. She said thank you, gave me a big hug, and said you will be a great nurse. Those words touched my heart and it puts all the studying into perspective. Suddenly, sleep deprivation and the miniminal amount of social time seems worth it when you can make a difference. Now I am recuperating for another exciting semester!

Thanks purpledolfin! By the way, GREAT NAME! :)

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I have recieved little gifts from people, but someone saying thank you for making their/or spouses hospital stay better just makes the job worth doing!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I have recieved little gifts from people, but someone saying thank you for making their/or spouses hospital stay better just makes the job worth doing!

I agree, it makes all the difference!

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Specializes in MR Peds, geris, psych, DON,ADON,SSD.

I actually have two!! The first one: I worked in a LTC facility for severe and profound mentally retarded children and young adults. One of the residents stuffed a peanut butter sandwich in his mouth and tried to swallow it. I was called to the dining room by the QMA. Resident was blue and lying on the table so I pulled him from the chair and did the heimlich on him of course he vomited and I sent him to the ER for a chest x-ray to check for broken ribs. His mom was notorious for giving the nurses grief. i had to be the one who called her to tell her the news. She just wanted to be sure he wasn't scared. I got a lovely bouquet of flowers from mom. 13 years later the same guy was found in the dining room (play area) non responsive on the floor. I was one of the nurses who was summoned to do CPR on him until the ambulance came....again I was the one who got to call mom. She requested I go to the hospital with her child (27 yr old) so he wouldn't be scared by himself. She knew as well as we all did that he hadn't made it and the code was called. I went to the hospital to sit with her child until she got there. WHAT AN HONOR THAT WAS!!! to be asked to sit with her baby until she got there.

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