Whenever you forget why you became a nurse........

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

..........it's always good to recall the stories all nurses have about the times we made a difference in someone's life. And then share it with another nurse.

Here's a brand new one that happened to me today.

I volunteer one day each month at the local senior citizens' center, doing blood pressure clinics. This being the day after the 4th of July, I wasn't particularly thrilled about dragging my tired carcass into town to do this, as I was up waaay too late last night having water fights with the family, eating BBQ burgers, watching fireworks and comforting my 2-year-old grandson, who was frightened by the loud booms and crackling noises.

But duty called, so there I was promptly at nine AM with my equipment and business cards, greeting my usual clientele and introducing myself to a few new ones who wandered in from exercise class. It was during a slow period that a gentleman whom I'd seen only once, in May, came in and stood in the doorway; I couldn't remember his name, but moved to pick up my BP cuff when he stopped me with a motion of his hand.

"I didn't come in to get my blood pressure done," he said with a slight smile. "I've only been here the one time, and your reading was too high."

I was a little taken aback---an unsatisfied customer, obviously; still, he was being nice about it, so I listened politely. "I kept track of it with the machines they have at Rite Aid and the Fred Meyer pharmacy," he went on, "and they all gave readings that were lower than yours. For a while, anyway."

Now I remembered this man; he'd actually disputed my reading, and requested I take it again, which I did (with similar results). Well, I said, I never recommend those machines. who knows how well they're maintained? Does anyone ever calibrate them? I wanted to argue that I trust only what I can hear when it comes to accurate BPs, and I still stood by my reading, and..........

"Then I got sick........really sick," he continued. "And my blood pressure went sky-high---in fact, it went even higher than your reading. So I went to the doctor, told him about that blood pressure reading you'd taken, and guess what he found?"

I had no clue.

"He poked my stomach, felt something in there he didn't like, and ordered an ultrasound," the gentleman responded, "and they found an abdominal aortic aneurysm the size of a walnut. They put me on a beta-blocker, and I'm having surgery next week."

He paused, then grinned.

"I came here to tell you that if it hadn't been for that high reading you gave me that day, I'd probably never have known about the aneurysm until too late," he said. "They tell me I'm probably going to live another twenty good years once I'm fixed up."

"I just figured you ought to know how one person's life turned out because of the service you do here." And as he waved and walked away, I thought Oh, yeah, now I remember: THAT'S why I do what I do!

[fultzymom]

:w00t: It is always nice to hear you did something good for someone!!

[smk1, LPN]

Cool!:balloons:

[pickledpepperRN]

How wonderful!

To know you did such good and to be thanked.

Wonderful.

[rnmomtobe2010]

And this is why I want to become a nurse!!

[leslie :-D]

vindication is sweet.

nice going, marla. :balloons:

leslie

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

And this is why I want to become a nurse!!

Good!

This is why I hope you and the other nursing students here will not let the negativity you see sometimes get you down.........there are many, many rewards to be had in this profession, and most of them can't be bought.

[nicuRN2007]

Aww...that's sweet. Thanks for sharing.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You are the best!!!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Is there any way you can copy this wonderful story to the sticky thread at the top of the page? I'd love it to remain where it can be reviewed often! Gotta keep those negative threads in check

[4everlearning]

Thanks! I needed to be reminded about the positive right about now!!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Yep, I needed the reminder too. Although I love nursing, I've become somewhat worn down over the past 2-3 years; that last year I spent in acute care almost took the starch out of me, and I nearly left the profession entirely when I quit my med/surg position. Even in my present job, there is always the subtle fear that I'll miss something and a resident will come to harm, fear of being sued for everything I own or ever WILL own, fear of losing my license for failing to do some vital piece of documentation that proves I took the action any 'prudent' nurse would under a given set of circumstances. I have always practiced carefully and conservatively, but the reality of nursing in the 21st century is that ANYTHING can---and too often does---go wrong and ruin a career.

Of course, that's what keeps me on my toes. I've always believed that to become complacent in this business is a recipe for disaster; if I don't feel just the teeniest bit nervous when I go to work in the morning, I may not be as on top of things as I should be, and that could be costly in more ways than one.

Now, having said that, I still believe this is the right career for me, and I intend to continue practicing, in some fashion, for the rest of my useful life. But it's days like today, when that gentleman came in to see me and tell me his story, that I realize that some of the humblest tasks we perform are a part of nursing's higher purposes. Think about it: how often do we take blood pressures, never considering that this simple screening really CAN save lives? How often do we perform technical skills that we've done hundreds or thousands of times before, and think "Oh, isn't it wonderful that I'm doing something that could save Mr. Smith from a stroke or heart attack, save ourselves and our children from paying his nursing home expenses, and keep him healthy and happy for as long as he lives"?

And yet, that's what nurses do every day. We make a difference. And if we're lucky, every once in a while someone comes along to remind us of it.