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

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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?

Specializes in pediatrics; PICU; NICU.

This came from the family of my private duty patient: nurses are the heart of our home.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Just today: a frequent flyer with BMI>48 shyly installed herself onto a scale. BMI 44.5 Real loss of fat. Feels a little better overall (list of diagnoses is quite long)

Her last stay we spoke for HOURS in a row. She managed almost 2 months home with stable narc dose. And she quetly said:

- you told me that I can do it, and I CAN!

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Twice I have had people try to set me up with either the patient or the patient's family member.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I think the best compliment I have received was when a mother of a suicidal adolescent that I took time to talk to and explain both the legal and medical process said to me " After I talked to you I felt at ease."

Hppy

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Been an oncology/palliative care nurse for 36 yrs. I've laughed with, cried with and held many, many dying patients. One pt thanked me for listening to him, caring for him and making him the most comfortable he could be before he died. Still remember him vividly to this day. I was still a new nurse at that time. His wife gave me a Christmas ornament with both their names on it and I hang it on my tree every year...

h

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

One more: when people tell me "they want to be a nurse because I inspire them" and then they, in fact, go on to do so.

The highest compliment and outcome I can imagine.

I have seen quite a few do this and it warms my heart when they tell me I inspired them in this direction.

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When I have a patient's family member tell me they feel safe to leave their loved one so they can go rest. Also patients telling me I make them comfortable during a scary time. When I hear these things, it confirms why I chose nursing!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

On Saturday I had an alert 95 year old man tell me "I have been married 3 times, if I were younger you would be my wife" . I thought it was so sweet. The best one ever was the daughter of a resident that saw me in the grocery store over a year after her mom died and remembered my name and told me thank you for the good care. That was over 10 years ago, occasionally see her in the store and she always says hi. ( I work in a town with a population of maybe 2000 people)

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Specializes in General.

In my first 5 years working, words was coming while bathing a late 50s father with brain atrophy, "I wish I could take as a son in law".

Found out his daughter had a beauty that was more than I deserve. 😁

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I work in ER and our rooms are divided by curtains. I came in to my new patient and introduced myself. In a moment of silence, I heard a patient next room (not my patient) saying "Your name is TigraRN? I've heard many good things about you". Turns out, she is a nurse on a different unit and some of her patients were my patients while in ER.

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I love this thread. Thanks for starting it.

I have two that I remember well. The first was an elderly patient who was in a room way at the end of the long hall in an old hospital I worked in during my first year as an RN. When I came to her bedside she said something like "I knew that was you coming. It's funny, but even hearing your footsteps makes me feel safe"

Another one was a little girl who came to the ER one night with an earache, but she was so pale and thin we all knew something more serious was going on. (turned out to be ALL) I had to start an IV on her and take some blood. She was so scared so we used EMLA cream and I gave her a little stuffed lion that was part of some donations that were given to our department. She sent me a Valentine card a few weeks later saying thank you and that I was her favourite nurse. All the feels!

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Specializes in kids.

Years ago, a young (mid 20s) guy called me a Goddess because as he was preparing to travel out of the country, we were discussing all kinds of things and toileting came up. He is a paraplegic, I cannot recall the reason why. Anyhoo...he was not aware of the Texas or condom cath and how that would eliminate the need for his buddies to transfer him to use the facilities to void. He had great family and friends who helped him as needed but this would make many things (concert attendance) much more pleasurable to attend. I remember being so embarrased for my profession that no one had ever discussed this with him.

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