Miss Tander Teaches

We can have all the clinical expertise in the world, but the moment we forget that nursing is a human art, we have failed.Thank you for reminding me, dianah - and Miss Tander.

I had a wonderful instructor for our surgical rotation. The one who taught us all about sterile technique. A few years later, she was in intensive care and needed acute hemodialysis - my job at the time! When I was at her bedside I was so extra careful to be mindful of my technique.....Two weeks later she was well enough to come to our unit for her treatment. And she told me how good it was to see a familiar face, one she knew was taught well! Turns out I could have dragged everything through the mud - she was just so thrilled to see someone she knew!Patients care more about compassion than technique, more about care than knowledge. This has been evident in the rate of malpractice cases against 'that sweet doctor who sat on my bed and held my hand' and 'that doctor who never looks me in the eye'.If we maintain good practice along with care and compassion - what more can a patient ask for?Good writing!

Powerful message!

Lovely. In the end, more powerful than medicine, more meaningful than "proper" technique.And universal.. isn't that what we ALL want? Just be good to me.CARE.. and you'll do everything perfectly.

I love this!

The ending was totally unexpected.It actually made me tear up and I honestly don't know why? Thank you, dianah.

I've got a lump in my throat too.....'ulp'. What a sweet story, dianah---well done!!

Good Message. And it took me down memory lane. This made me think of one of my clinical instructors, she was tough and scary. I joined her group one quarter and eveyone in the class had her the prior quarter, except one girl who had changed classes. So everyone else knew what to expect and what she wanted. I didn't know we needed to bring a certain paper or something (I can't remember now). The first thing she ever said to me was "You know I could send you home right now." This of course is something every student wants to hear from their instructor. My good friend, who was in her fifties when we were in the program was not shy and called our instructor "Gunny" short for Gunnery Master Sargeant. And no, we were not in the military. Our instructor was tough with care plans. I was a total nerd in school and wanted good grades. It was a hard quarter for me but I never had problems with care plans after having her as an instructor.

ditto! completely unexpected and it gave me a lump in the throat!Quote from sirIThe ending was totally unexpected.It actually made me tear up and I honestly don't know why? Thank you, dianah.

Thank you for your comments, all are appreciated! .

And...sometimes the teacher teaches the best, by not teaching at all.Thank you, Dianah - and Miss Tander, wherever you may be.----- Dave

Thank you for sharing your story, and telling it so well. It is the best article about nursing that I have seen in a while.