While taking care of and assessing
a three year old in pediatrics, I had a most rewarding experience. She
was holding a sheet of smiley face stickers. She looked at me, peeled a
sticker off and said, "You've been good!" I wore that sticker on my badge
until it wore off. That was a truly rewarding experience to be appreciated
by an innocent three year old!
MaryChris, RN
A couple of years ago, I was pulled
to the fourth floor. This couple, (in their early thirties), had just had
a baby boy. Both parents were only children, so there were no younger siblings,
neices, or nephews. The mom had never baby-sat. They were from out of state
and had no family nearby. The mom became very frustrated trying to breast
feed. Upon entering the room, the baby was laying on the mother's lap flinging
his arms and legs, while the mother was trying to drop her breast into
his mouth. Both parents were frustrated and on the verge of crying, and
both asked, "Why won't he nurse?" After wrapping the baby back up in a
blanket, I proceeded to explain how babies needed to be kept warm and snuggled;
how the room temperature is about twenty five degrees cooler than being
inside the uterus. Then I showed the different positions that the baby
could be held for nursing. In each position, the baby automatically began
to nurse. The parents were in awe. Within an hour, I had a contented baby
and two very grateful parents. Throughout the rest of the day and the next
day, I answered questions for them. A few weeks later I received a note
from them expressing their heartfelt thanks. It was nice to be able to
do something, that as an IMC nurse, I normally don't get to.
Sue, RN
For a while I worked midnights on
a surgical floor. Occasionally my patients had a hard time sleeping because
they would be afraid of impending surgery. I would spend time with them,
praying, and perhaps rubbing their back or their feet, and we would watch
the sunrise together. I really felt they were comforted by the human touch
we shared. This was my first affirmation that healing involved, body and
spirit.
Mary, RN
While working in South America in
a small clinic, I remember a bus pulling up and a frantic driver saying,
"Senorita, a lady is having stomach pains on my bus". I ran out, examined
the patient and realized that she did not have an acute abdomen, but a
crowning baby. I had never worked L&D and that baby nearly delivered
itself after I removed the cord twice around the neck. When we got her
into the clinic, I passed out. They named the baby "Juanita" after me!
Jenna, RN
Early in my career I cared for a
farmer who had lost his arm in a farming accident. One and a half to two
weeks later his attitude was still "poor me". His recovery was at a standstill,
frustrating his wife, toward whom he took out all his anger. After hearing
his verbal tirade one evening, I very unprofessionally "told him off" sparing
no words. I expected to be fired, but it turned out the be the catalyst
needed for his recovery.
Sue, RN
I remember working one Christmas
Eve, I was feeling sorry for myself. It was 2:00 AM. I went into the room
of a patient. She was very ill (tubes, etc). I woke her up and said, "Merry
Christmas". She gave me the most grateful smile and squeezed my hand. I
knew I was in the right place that Christmas Eve.
Kathy, RN
In May of 1997, I took care of a
gentleman for a couple of days, and on the last day we got to talking about
his family and his wife. He told me his wife and him have been married
for thirty one years and that he treats her like a princess. I said I was
looking for someone like that. He said, "I have a son." It's now nine months
later, that son is my boyfriend, and we are in love.
Natalie, RN
Nurses Week Inspiration ~ 1
Nurses Week Inspiration ~ 2