We are human too

Specialties Geriatric

Published

#justnursinghomethings.

#weepy

#justnursethings

#beanursetheysayitwillbefuntheysay

#veryrewarding

When you hope the medication is enough.

When you hope your touch is enough.

When you hope your nursing skills are enough.

When you kiss them on the forehead and say "I love you"

When they reach out for your hand and say they love you too.

When they tell you the pain has gone away.

Then I know I've done enough.

Then I know I can take a moment for myself

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
And old as **** frail elderly resident in the nursing home I work in who was half dead the other night and has no family but the people who take care of her.

We moved this thread to the LTC Nursing forum. Good luck to you.

There's something about the juxtaposition of the following comment that makes me LOL. :lol2: I am truly unwell.

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

Long term care isn't at all like actue care. The bonds formed with residents and their families can be strong, and some of these people don't have family that visits. Don't they deserve to feel loved?

What's wrong with telling a resident you love them too if they say it first? Whats wrong with a gentle hug and kiss on the cheek initiated by the resident if you've cared for someone for years or even decades, as many of the nurses at my facility have done?

What if they think you're someone else? Their daughter or mother? You should walk away without saying "love you too"? If it bothers you, fine - don't say it, but I don't believe there is anything wrong with it.

Long term care isn't at all like actue care. The bonds formed with residents and their families can be strong, and some of these people don't have family that visits. Don't they deserve to feel loved?

What's wrong with telling a resident you love them too if they say it first? Whats wrong with a gentle hug and kiss on the cheek initiated by the resident if you've cared for someone for years or even decades, as many of the nurses at my facility have done?

What if they think you're someone else? Their daughter or mother? You should walk away without saying "love you too"? If it bothers you, fine - don't say it, but I don't believe there is anything wrong with it.

(FWIW, in the scenario described by the OP, the nurse is the person who says "I love you," and the client responds, "I love you, too.")

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

At my facility it is in the service plan to tuck one lady in and tell her you love her and give her a kiss on her forehead. It is how she likes to be put to bed, it makes her feel comfortable and safe. Personally I think it depends on your facility and what area you are working in and the people that live there. I wouldn't just say it to a person without knowing them and their likes or dislikes but still.... I work in memory care, and some of my people really light up when you say you love them. Of course I'm just a caregiver not a nurse so it may be different.

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.

I don't see anything wrong with it. Maybe its where I'm from or the facilities I've worked at. I've seen many coworkers hug and say loving things to those residents they were particularly close to. I've had residents hold and kiss my hands and tell me they love me. And if I had a loved one dying alone, I hope someone is there to do just what OP did.

This made me laugh because I'm an LTC nurse that would never do any such thing, though I can see why some would.

Incidentally, I was recently a L&D patient coming in for potential preeclampsia concerns, crying because I was worried about my pregnancy and baby, and one of the nurses suddenly kissed me on the forehead in an attempt to comfort me. It was sweet and obviously had no malice, but I looked at her like

raw

I guess it was effective in getting me to stop crying though.

OP, something like this would probably go better on instagram or tumblr or something. I can see what you're going for but others have excellent points about boundaries and not loving the portrayal of nursing as a position of martyrhood that you should probably think about.

I say a simple prayer every day while coming into work:

God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah anyone who will listen please...

1.) Don't let me bump heads with the therapists today...I love them dearly but lord almighty...

2.) Please let me be able to get a lunch without being disturbed or pulled away from my food

3.) Please let all the doctors call back on time

4.) Please let the family members be in great moods

5.) Please let the managers also be in good moods

6.) Please make sure the previous shift did their work

7.) All meds, no death, no emergencies, adequate staffing

Amen

I currently work LTC/Memory Care. I get told "I love you" all the time, in which I reply "Aw. I love you too." There is no feeling behind the sentiment, it is a validation statement made for that resident.

I also get kissed...usually after I have been slapped and have told the resident not to hit me. *sigh*

No love, no respect. (that was said with sarcasm, for those wondering.)

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