What's the nicest compliment you've gotten as a nurse?

[NurseNinja1990]

Just thought we could all use a warm and fuzzy topic. Nursing can seem like a thankless job at times, and when you do get that rare validation from a patient or another staff member it sticks with you. For me, I'll always remember how I felt when a CNA came up to me and said "We all feel safer with you around".

So how about you? What's something nice that a patient or another staff member said that stands out to you?

[angeloublue22, BSN, RN]

I worked in the very stressful jail where there were a lot of negative feelings going around all the time, including yelling matches between the staff. I was one of the few who didn't involve myself in that but instead tried to make people laugh and smile. I had one med aide that told me that she switched her shifts to work with me because "I kick the negativity out the door, and bring in the sunshine." She thanked me profusely for bringing in a "calming positive presence" to medical. I'm glad I have that effect on people cause holy crap, I was always terribly stressed at that job.

[DextersDisciple, BSN, RN]

Had a terminal heme onc pt hug me and say "I love you DD and everything you do for me. I pray for you and all the nurses everyday. You are angels". The sickest patients are always the kindest patients.

[HalfBoiled, BSN, RN]

"Thank you."

[db2xs]

"You helped save my life."

[Crush]

My nursing instructor's family member was sick and when she saw me come in the room she said, " thank God you have a good nurse this time." Totally made my day. Oh hell, that made my month. They even gave me a kudos card that my manager hung up on the break room board.

[JBudd, MSN]

Long time ago, in an LTC place, had a resident say "you are the only one who listens to us".

During a period of severe staff shortages and godawful long waits in the ER lobby; had a charge nurse say she may have to pull me from triage to work the trauma zone, and one of our long time docs yelled no! if you pull her they'll start dying in the lobby.

[beckysue920]

I had to tell a young man that he had HIV. In a follow-up appointment, he said to me. " I didn't want this fricking disease, but at least I had an angel tell me."

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

When my manager's father was admitted to our unit, and she chose me to take care of him.

[SmilingBluEyes]

"You are my hero". In many forms of that statement.

I am no hero, I tell them; just a nurse doing exactly what nurses across the globe, do, every day.

In my 21 year career, I have run across many, many patients who think all we do is take doctors' orders and do what we're told. Too many don't begin to realize the gravity and importance of what we do to contribute to their care and wellbeing. When, perchance, I do get to explain, most are stunned when they hear the broad base of how knowledge and the schooling needed, much less, that we have our own independent licensure to maintain and live up to.

[Daisy4RN]

I was a "sitter" for a patient, so I literally had 12hrs to talk to him. He was a current gang member. He was wearing a cross around his neck so I worked into a conversation with him about that. Turned out he was raised Catholic and had been feeling very guilty about things he had done. We talked all day and even prayed together. At the end of the day he thanked me for caring about him and being his angel for the day. I don't know what happened to him but it was nice to hear a thank-you.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

when I still worked in LTC, the last facility residents told me that I made them feel young (I always danced and sang in the hall). I miss that...

[BlinkyPinky]

"If I had a daughter, I'd want her to be just like you."