You ARE making a difference

[Kittery]

A usually quiet and reserved student stopped by yesterday just to chat and write me this note:

You make everyone feel better no matter how bad the case is! Thank you for caring about everyone who walks through the door! THANK YOU!

He's not much of a talker, comes in for whatever he needs and leaves, so I never would've guessed he felt this way. It melted my heart. And reminded me that what we do DOES make a difference, it's just hard to see it everyday.

Keep on keepin' on, SNs, summer's almost here!

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

YOU ROCK KITTERY !! Thanks for that sweet post. Yes, we all need the reminding at times. :)

[g_majied CNA,PC]

Working as a CNA/NT, I often felt unappreciated for the work I did, especially when I gave my all to the patients in my care. But every now and again, I'd get a sincere compliment from a patient or their family member telling me how grateful they are for all the hard work I do, and at times it would move me to tears í ½í¸¢ is that bad or good?

[madricka, BSN, RN]

A few years ago I was on my way into another hospital for a doctor's appointment and I heard someone call my name. I turned around and a nursing student was standing there, almost in tears and reaching out to grab me. I was like, "Wha??". He calmed himself down and said who he was & I instantly remembered. I was his mother's primary RN in gyne-onc/palliative when she was dying -- she and I had one of those nurse-patient bonds that come along rarely. I cared for her until she passed about 3 months after meeting her. The young man in front of me that day was her son. He said he had meant to return to the hospital to thank me for the amazing care I had given his mother but it was too hard for him to be there. He then explained that my love and excellent nursing care inspired him to start his BScN! He was at the end of his first year of nursing school! He said he wanted to be the kind of nurse I was. At this point we were both very tearful and we hugged and I wished him the best of luck.

Honestly, that is THE best thank you I have ever received. You really have no idea the impact we have as we go about our work every day. I still get goosebumps when I talk about that day, it really does blow my mind.