Who has had the biggest influence on your nursing practice?

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2007

It's that time of year again, New Year's, time to reflect and renew.
In the spirit of the season, tell us about the person in your life who has been the biggest influence on your nursing practice.
It might be a special teacher, a patient, or a family member. It might be a total stranger, through books or movies or TV.
It might've happened years ago or yesterday.
Share!

Arnold Palmer has been my biggest influence in nursing practice

Followed by Jack and Lee

sleeplessonthelake · Dec 31, 2007

My two ex-wives, who are RN's, and their attorneys.

KatieM123 · Jan 1, 2008

I'm just a hopeful student but the reason I continue to go on is a friend who I was an aid to in college. He has MS and was wheelchair bound. He got through his days very literally with the assistance of aids. Aids who were fellow students like myself who could handle giving a fellow student of the same age and intelligence a bath or a meal. So my junior year I said I could do it and he told me frankly it would be much more weird for me than him and to be prepared. The following day I showed up at 7am to give him his shower. I removed his stuff and picked him up out of his special bed in his dorm. I carried him to his special shower chair, rolled it over the toilet and gave him a few minutes privacy (until he said OK) to do the morning business. Upon being called I rolled him into the shower and washed his hair, cleaned him, and dried him off. Then we rolled into the dorm where I picked him up and put him onto his bed. I then dressed him, being VERY careful of his feet which were VERY sensitive. I put on his pants and shirt -- all dependent on the weather, then I put him in his wheel chair.

This man was ten times smarter than I was. He was so smart he understood the needs he had and the limitations he had and he embraced them. I was another student who could do it. I could go in and give him a shower, even on the mornings he had an erections, it happens, I could do it. With no pause. I COULD DO IT! Others can't. And now I'm an adult and I know I need to continue to do it, even if school is long and hard :)

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

My two ex-wives, who are RN's, and their attorneys.

Speaking of spouses, I have to tell you that the reason I started this thread was because it occurred to me that nurses need to have the emotional reserve to be able to go to work and take care of others every day.

My husband and family give me that support. I really believe that if I was not married to such a good man, I would not be the good nurse I am today.

In fact, I doubt I would be a nurse at all.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

1. My first nursing instructor who died of CA about 20 years ago. I still

want her to be proud of me.

2. My conscious

3. Realizing that I'm 12 years from Medicare (I want to be treated as

nicely as I treat the now elderly)