There's another thread somewhere in here where someone (a student) asked if hospital nurses were going to be expected to work the major holidays. As all the hospital nurses here know, the answer is yes but it got me thinking a little more about what happened to me yesterday.
Every year for the last 25 years or so, the family has always had a big family Christmas party, my stepfather, his two brothers and wives, my grandmother, and all the grandkids. Well now the grandkids have kids so there are like 40 people in my parents (big) house and it is very stressful for my mother, and as a trickle down effect, ME!!
So this year is my first year as a nurse, I've so far worked July 4th, Thanksgiving Eve night, Black Friday, and I'm scheduled to work Christmas night. My kids are now 14 and 10 so working Christmas night is not that big a deal since the traditional gift opening is over ny 9 am in my house-but I digress. Yesterday was the BIG FAMILY Christmas gathering at my mothers house. I had already told my grandmother that I had to work because our schedules are done 2 months in advance. No problem right? My husband and kids were in attendance. I sent a text to my husband and daughter at about 2 in the afternoon when I knew they'd all be there. She sent me one back that said my aunt was pretty damned indignant that I wasn't there. I think it went something like "Why do we have to be here and Jennifer doesn't, its not fair!" My daughter told me that and I thought to myself, you self centered bi***!!! You want to know what I was doing yesterday while you were with all of your family? Well let me tell you.....
I held the hand of an old lady who's son was being wheeled out on a stretcher to go die at hospice due to cancer of the brain. I also held the hand of my 89 year old little old snowbird lady as she was suffering respiratory distress telling her we were going to get her fixed up and feeling better in a few minutes, just relax (the latter happened at hour 36 of three shifts in a row, shift change-typical right). The latter turned out ok, LOLNAD is doing just fine today.
I try not to get a "holier (sp) than thou" attitude about being a nurse, because as we know, for many hours of the day its just a grind of work-paperwork, needy patients, turning and burning beds and passing meds. But when stupid family members make brainless comments and question my absence, my thought (which I keep to myself) is "I'm not there because I'm saving a strangers life or holding their hand as they go to meet their maker-what exactly did you do today to make your life worth living?"
