What's the nicest thing a patient has done for you?

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In glancing through the "Hot" tab on the home page, I noticed that almost everything was a complaint (and thankfully we have a place to vent!). But it left me wondering:

What is the nicest thing a patient/family has done for you? :kiss Or, if you can't think of one, do you have a favorite patient story?

Sometimes it helps to be reminded why we got in this field in the first place

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Specializes in Plastics. General Surgery. ITU. Oncology.

Years ago when I worked on the Plastics ward a patient with old burns who needed lots of z-plasties and who was in and out for skin grafts had a family who owned an Indian takeaway.

Every night the family delivered lovely food to the ward. LOADS of it. They kept this up evvery time the patient was on that ward and we loved it.

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The daughter of an elderly pt who was on the floor with a GI bleed told me I changed her opinion of our hospital. I was very attentive to her Mother during her blood transfusions and assisted her daughter with her personal care which I guess the nurses hadn't done at her last stay. Frankly I was just doing my job, I joked around with her daughter a little and went about my shift as normal. She wrote to the hospital about me and they read the letter at the managers meeting. My NM was very happy the floor was mentioned in a positive light. I was really touched that she went so far as to write a letter to the hospital and mention me personally. As a new nurse it gave me confidence and helped me stay motivated. I wish I could tell her how much I needed that.

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical.

In one of my fourth year clinicals, there was a patient who woke up early every day to walk down to Tim Hortons (coffee and donut chain, for those of you who aren't Canadian, LOL) and buy enough coffee for all the nurses working that day. It was awesome.

On the floor I work on now, we have a patient who will often buy the nurses treats or even pizza from time to time. She's a very sweet and positive lady despite all the set-backs that have occurred in her treatment over the months she's been with us.

And any time a patient or family thanks me is one of the nicest parts of my job

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Noane else has any other stories?

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I don't have a particular story. I get satisfaction everyday when I am thanked and appreciated a patient for the care I provided.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

Recently was chatting with a patients daughter about coffee. The next day, she showed up to visit her mom & had brought in Dunkin Donuts coffee for myself & my nursing student. Wicked cute :-)

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Specializes in pediatric critical care.

I love it when the parents tell me that since I am the one taking care of their child tonight, they will be able to comfortably leave to go home and sleep without worry. Now THAT is trust!

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Specializes in CICU.

Being recognized out in the community and told that we do great work.

Hand-written notes from families thanking us for the care of recently deceased patients - I think its special that they take that time during their own grief to recognize us.

Mention me by name in positive comments that are sent to the big-wigs.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

There have been several residents that I have taken care of but two of them will always have a special place in my heart. Buster was a good old fella and he went to the bank and got me Silver Dollars, I tried to refuse them and even tried to turn them into the DON but he was alert and his own person and insisted that I have them...he is long gone but I still have it in my jewelry box. The other is Cora....she and her family loved me too and they always tried to give me money and I would not accept it. She used to tell me that I took such good care of her that I was like her second mother. I will never forget them.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I once had a patient who had converted from an ischemic to hemorrhagic stroke (she was supposed to be discharge to rehab earlier in the day but insurance issues had held it up). I was actually precepting at the time and the daughter of the patient and the patient both used to be RNs. The daughter wrote a letter to our NM, DON, and President of the hospital thanking us for saving her mother's life. We were given pins by the stroke coordinator of the hospital. Very proud day. :redpinkhe

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In glancing through the "Hot" tab on the home page, I noticed that almost everything was a complaint (and thankfully we have a place to vent!). But it left me wondering:

What is the nicest thing a patient/family has done for you? :kiss Or, if you can't think of one, do you have a favorite patient story?

Sometimes it helps to be reminded why we got in this field in the first place

for me it was always hands down the patients that made it worthwhile. of course we weren't allowed to accept gifts.

The post discharge letters and calls from patients were my dearest gifts by far.

I think the most memorable must be a 2 page letter from the mother of one of my cancer patients that had passed calling me his Angel. Some things money just can't buy and that's one of them.

I truly wouldn't trade it for anything material in the world.

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