The real pay in nursing....

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

There are days when I wonder why I ever left computers; usually, that day is payday. I make a little more than half of what I used to. And there are times when I feel like I should just record "I can't afford it" and put it on automatic replay. My life seems to have become an endless list of things I can't afford to do. It was payday, and I was grumpy.

I admitted a new patient, and she was truly sick....her heart was trying to stop, (when a patient bradys down to 28, I become tachycardic for them). Luckily, the cardiologist was there and he got a temporary external pacemaker in place in record time. Her heart rate stabilized due to the forced beats, and we all took a cautiously deep breath. We got rid of the bloody sheets, drapes, etc., and tidied her up so the family could come in. The cardiologist is discussing next steps with the doc on for medical management and the patient's adult children.

Among the family members was a cute little 5 year old. She's scared of all the ICU "stuff" and cowering behind her mom. A scared kid always breaks my heart, and I take a minute and show her the "TV" on the side of the bed, let her watch me weigh the pt, show how it can move the bed (unfortunately, it doesn't have the "Murphy bed" or "hideaway bed sandwich" option we all keep asking for). She looks up at me and says, "My nanny is my bestest friend." I look down, and say, "mine was, too."

In reality, mine wasn't...a alcoholic valium junkie doesn't love anything but the next yellow pill, but this little one apparently has the relationship I always wished for. Her eyes are huge, and she's trying to be so grown up. "Is her heart better? Is it still broke?"

I squat down so we're eye to eye and tell her that we've got something helping her Nanny's heart so it's not so broke, but that we'll get someone to fix what's broke in the morning. "Like a mechanic?" I look over at the cardiologist who's grinning at me, and say, "Yes, but he's a very special mechanic, and he only works on hearts, not cars." She seemed to think this over, and I went back to work, with my little helper shadowing my every move, and watching what I'm doing to "Nanny" like a little hawk.

About 20 minutes later, they are getting ready to leave and I'm in the nurse's station, getting a list of instructions from the cardiologist on how he wants the night handled, when suddenly this little blond streak comes tearing into nurse's station, and the little girl throws her arms around my legs and hugs me. "Thank you for looking after my Nanny." The mom is giving chase and apologizing, and we get the little one into her arms and out the door. I go back to the doc and watch the small blond head, firmly pressed against her mom's neck, disappear on the other side of our big double doors. I hope she's not crying, but I think she is.

I looked down at the cardiologist, and said, "You, know, I don't know how much you make a day, Doc. But today, I made more that you did. I got paid with a hug."

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[OttawaRPN]

It's those little moments, coming at the most unexpected time, that remind us of why we are here. Great story.

[JoblessNewGradRN]

how awesome. thanks for sharing!

[Debilpn23]

That is beautiful

Thanks for Sharing.

[DelanaRN, MSN, APRN, NP]

Love it.

[Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN]

:heartbeatThanks for the reminder of why we do what we do!:heartbeat

[hoope, RN]

That is so sweet.. !

I enjoyed reading it

Thanks alot for sharing it :)

[cheska_rn, ASN, RN]

Teared up reading this. Very touching! :heartbeat

[havehope]

I agree with cheska_rn2be! Thanks for sharing. That's very touching!

[fancyhen]

Money can't buy that. Thanks for posting and I know you'll have many more paydays like that because you're a wonderful and caring nurse. :heartbeat

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

Beautiful story.

IT staff DO make very good money, but your computer can never hug you....