Things that make it all worth it

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Had a really rough night at work...one patient in particular ran me ragged all night...so much so that I was begging the other nurse to just answer their call light once. Then, just as I'm about to leave, there goes their call light..."okay, just one more time" The patient grabs my hand and says "I just wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me tonight, you've made this much better for me" awwwwww, okay, I guess I'll go back tonight :redbeathe

Specializes in Allergy/Immunology.

Your post made me smile. I am off put by the majority of the comments here, though. There's always going to be negative people, I guess, but every time I read things like those, I wonder if I really am choosing the right profession.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
I find that the patients who say "I hate to keep bothering you...", don't seem to mind bothering me at all :)

To which I reply, "you are not bothering me, it is my job to help you!" Happens too often. But sometimes they bother me too much when I'm already really busy! haha

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I had a pt tell me something along the same line as I was leaving work. I saw her a year later in the grocery store. She still remembered me as her 'angel of mercy'

I do believe what your pt said was sincere. Kudos to you!

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Specializes in Oncology.
I find that the patients who say "I hate to keep bothering you...", don't seem to mind bothering me at all :)

"Then you can consolidate all of your requests and give them to me or the aid next time we come in, rather than asking for a glass of water, and when I bring you that, a container of pudding."

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
Yes, it wasn't requests that they were calling me for, it was because they were critical and in addition...anxious about it so the thank you was for getting her through the anxiety...talking her down etc.

No, I'm not a new nurse and it's not a honeymoon period....thanks people for taking a positive thought from me and turning it negative.

You're right. I'm very sorry for starting the wave of negative responses.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

I am sorry too, for contributing to the negativity. I was recuperating from an exhausting day.

Honestly, I can take pretty much anything from the patients and residents, even if they're lighting up the call light every ten minutes for the most trivial things. I know what they need, and I'm there to provide it. Whether they thank me or not, I feel great if I know I met their needs. However, I do feel truly "abused" by the system (or management), which prevents me from doing exactly that. The few occasions when I roll my eyes and think, "Ugh, she's calling me again!," I know the real cause of my frustration is that I am already behind and still tons of things to do, not the fact that she's calling me again.

And... it does feel wonderful when your patient acknowledges your effort and thanks you. I know that. Don't be mad, OP. I thought this was a lot more interesting thread than it would've been had we all replied with 100% pure grade positivity. ;)

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I'm not sorry.

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