What You Do Matters

ER's can be crazy, hectic place! Nurses can have a very thankless job with tired, sick, and cranky patients. But an ER nurse, who took time out of her busy, crazy day to talk to my grieving friend changed a life. What you do matters.

What You Do Matters

Three months ago, my best friend's father died. He went to the hospital for a "routine" surgery and never came home. It was a PE. That evening, my friend called complaining of a tightness in her chest.

We debated for about half a second and me, being the nursing student I am, took her to the ER. We both thought it was probably stress but we just had to be sure. For her sake as well as her mother's.

Amy was her nurse. She was the kindest, calmest, most compassionate person I've met. She sat with my friend and let her talk and cry. She checked on us constantly. She congratulated us for coming in to rule out a heart attack because she had a heart attack at the age of 34. When we left, she hugged my friend, told her she would be praying for her, and sent us on our way.

Last night, my friends mom called her complaining of numbness on the left side of her body. We put her in the car and took her to the ER. To say this was hard on my friend was an understatement. It was your typical Sunday night in the ER: chaotic! While we were in the room, my friend kept looking out the door at someone.

Her mother finally asked her what she was doing and she said, "That lady was my nurse. I don't think I'll ever forget all she did for me."

I encouraged her to tell her and tell her. So she did.

She told Amy how much she had calmed her down and made her feel like everything was going to be ok. She told her how much it meant to her that she sat and listened when she rambled on about her dad and how she was going to have to struggle through life without him. She told her that she knew it would be safe to bring her mom to this hospital and she was ok with it because she knew people like her worked there.

I know that life in the ER is hectic. I know you, as ER nurses, probably only hear the negative from patients.

"What is taking so long?!"

"When are they coming to get me?"

"I got here before them and they are already going home."

But you are changing lives with what you do. Whether it is treating someone medically or sitting with them while they have a panic attack as they grieve the sudden loss of a father, you are changing lives.

Thank you.

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springchick1

About springchick1, ADN, RN

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery, Med-surg.

My nursing life was forever changed by the kindness and compassion of the nurse who looked after my mother during chemo. As a seasoned nurse I learned more than I ever thought possible about nursing and caring from this amazing woman! I want to be like that for my patients because it really does make a difference in the world for that patient.

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Specializes in ICU.

Nurses like this really DO make all the difference to the patient. I've been in the ER many times (for chronic depression issues- not an ER nurse's favorite thing at all!) and the kind ones who listen to me and treat me with respect make a terrible time like that just a little bit, even a lot bit, more bearable. I am very sensitive and the callous/judgemental ones really make being in that situation much worse.

To all the compassionate ER nurses out there- THANK YOU!!

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It's hard to always be as compassionate and caring as we should. I try to make sure I step into every patients room with mindset of "treat them how I would want my family treated". Usually that helps me stay positive and compassionate. Your post just makes me want to make sure I'm always like that for every patient even more.

Thank you for appreciating the good care you receive!

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It's hard to always be as compassionate and caring as we should. I try to make sure I step into every patients room with mindset of "treat them how I would want my family treated". Usually that helps me stay positive and compassionate. Your post just makes me want to make sure I'm always like that for every patient even more.

Thank you for appreciating the good care you receive!

The bolded is the truth. And it gets me through every single day.
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