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?

[Daisy4RN]

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.

Good reminder that we should not assume what patients know, or don't know.

[thoughtful21, BSN, RN]

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.

That's a good one!

One time, a patient who was admitted in the evening told me that I was the first person that day to smile at her.

It had been a rough shift, and I'm glad I was able to keep smiling and make a difference for her.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Years ago, when I was a new Charge Nurse ... one of the senior nurses told me that she was impressed by my Charge abilities because when I made decisions about staff assignments, patient placement, etc. I had reasons for those decisions. She confessed that when she was in charge, she just picked people to do stuff without thinking about it much.

Around that same time, another senior nurse told me that more than any other nurse she knew, I had the ability to fall into a pile of manure and come up smelling like a rose. (She meant that I could shake things up a bit and say/do some controversial things and get away with it.) I think that was my favorite compliment. Mine hasn't been an easy career, but it's been interesting.

[SquatsNScrubs, BSN, RN]

Took care of a wonderful patient (who had an equally wonderful husband) for a few shifts while I was still working as an aide. On her day of discharge, hubby gives me a huge hug and says "I wish we had a grandson your age that we could fix you up with so you could be a part of our family!"

Great memory.

[Nunya, BSN]

My first job, a level 2 NICU, we got to pick one baby we got no matter what (rest of assignment made by charge nurse). So I always picked N, and a few times the Mom said she was happy I was on, especially the night she died. She called me a little over a year later to babysit their adopted daughter, the first person other than family to do so. And when I left for another job, she and her husband sent balloons. The second one was with a family who drove to my military hospital from 1+ hours away for their daughter's blood draws, as the person who did then at their small clinic didn't do a very good job. I just did it the first time because I was working, but the next two times they scheduled because I was working. AND they sent a nice letter to my boss!

[guest940422]

I took care of a teenage girl with pretty severe Cystic Fibrosis for about a month in the ICU while she was having major complications. When she was transferred to step down she told me I was the only nurse who made her feel "normal". She explained her whole life everyone has always treated her like "the sick girl" and even though I was tougher on her and pushed her harder than the rest of the staff, I was her favorite because I just treated her like a teenager.... I'll never forget that.

[RNMatt87]

a patient once told me in the ER that because of my attitude and smile and sense of humor that i made her forget about her cancer and the pain that she was in for just a little while. she was there in pretty significant pain in her back from bone cancer. even when i was starting her IV before i gave her any pain meds i tried to make her smile and take hers and her daughter's minds off it any way i could. apparently it worked. lol. they are the nicest 2 people i have ever met. the next day at work i received a hand written letter from them expressing gratitude. i still have that letter and it will always remain close to my heart.

[ohiobobcat]

I'm a school nurse. I had a student start to develop symptoms of anaphylaxis about 20 minutes or so after eating some peanut M&Ms. She was terrified, and once I realized her symptoms were progressing, I made the decision to give the Epi-pen. Protocol states that I call 911 after Epi-pen administration. I sat with her and held her hand and talked to her about what was going to happen in the ambulance and once she got to the hospital. EMS arrived, and off she went.

The next day she came running into my office as soon as she got to school and loudly exclaimed, as only teen-aged girls can, "OhmiGod, you saved my life yesterday!!!!" Those moments of appreciation from high school students are few and far between, so I take it where I can get it!!

[josephine123]

I'd been a nurse for about 3 months and I had to give report to a nurse with 30+ years experience and who was notoriously intimidating during report. Most of the other nurses dreaded report with her, but I liked the challenge, and I kinda idolized her. One night after a typical grilling I took it a step further and asked her a rhetorical question about the patient that showed I really understood what was going on beyond the usual SBAR. She asked me how long I'd been a nurse. When I told her she smiled, shook her head, and said "you're gonna be a great nurse. "

[nervousnurse, ASN]

A sweet elderly patient said I was the kindest, most thorough nurse and asked if I could

be his nurse every night.

[jodispamodi]

My favorite compliment came from a coworker who was a total type A, perfectionist, anal, kick-♧♧♧ nurse. One day after a long hard in the trenches sort of shift he said to me "I could be sick around you". Now he had said about other people, if I ever get sick don't let him or her near me, or transfer me out. LOL I still think of it as the best compliment ever.

[jodispamodi]

This is one from my rescue days. We went mutual aid to another town and an older lady had ruptured varicose veins in her leg and had lost a huge amount of blood, because of our department then having multiple rescues we had to mutual aid a second paramedic from another town. The woman was shocky and frightened, and fighting care and having IV's placed for fluids. I thought to myself how can I be the most useful? So I sat at her head and told her she had to stop fighting, we knew she was scared, I told her we were going to fight for her so she didn't have too, I explained about the siren, and the pressure wraps on her legs, blah, blah. I honestly didn't think she really heard much of what I said. We got her to the hospital and she was rushed to surgery. We left and returned to our respective departments. I forgot about her as other calls and rescues happened. Several months later the captain got a letter from her, in it she thanked everyone for helping her, and she talked about the person who sat at her head and told her we'rd fighting for you, and explained things. She said she knew the other people were important in helping her but the one who sat at her head and talked to her was the one she felt, who saved her.

I'll never forget that call, all that blood (her bathroom was covered in it) or that letter. I thought I was doing little.