Days you are glad you are a Nurse

1 Would love to hear about the days that make you feel like you have chosen the best job in the world? Those days when you may really see someone smile or feel better because of something you have been able to do for them.

What inspires you as nurse?
My favorite moment in the nicu so far...Two weeks ago taking care of a baby I had admitted 1 week earlier, he had almost gone on ECMO and was very unstable for a few days, his parents had been told he likely wouldn't make it much longer. A week later he was still intubated but doing much better, blood pressures stabilized, he wasn't being transfused twice a day, electrolytes leveling out and was way less sensitive. Well later that afternoon I gathered up another nurse, a respiratory therapist and spent about 15 minutes organizing him and all his lines, tubes and leads and was able to help his mom hold him for the first time ever, at this point he was 12 days old. She was so happy. She spoke a different language than I but I didn't need her to verbalize her thanks, she sat there smiling and crying for 3 hours until I had to take him in order to hang his lines before the night shift came on. He stayed completely stable the entire time and was not agitated at all like he had been when not being held. Definitely a good day all around :-D

When I get my pt into the shower and help her wash her hair for the first time in over a week. Her smile at having clean hair was wonderful. When I got my pt's pain meds re-assessed and the new med helped the pain better than the old me. When I helped my pt have a comfortable, quiet death - I held her hand as she passed on and was happy that I kept him comfortable in his last hours on this Earth. When I supported my pt's family with the difficult decision of putting their Mother into a Nsg Home - telling them that I had to make the same choice with my own Mom and how difficult it was for me. I think them knowing that other people had the same struggles/guilt/etc helped them make their decision. There are many positive things about nsg. Sometimes the smallest thing you do turns out to be huge for the pt. I once had a pt bring me a bottle of wine to thank me for all I did for her. What did I do? I brought her fresh towels in the morning to wash with and gave her fresh water every am. That was it. But she was so thankful for those small things that she wanted to thank me. So the saying that the smallest thing can make someone's day is true.

Quote from ittybabyRNMy favorite moment in the nicu so far...Two weeks ago taking care of a baby I had admitted 1 week earlier, he had almost gone on ECMO and was very unstable for a few days, his parents had been told he likely wouldn't make it much longer. A week later he was still intubated but doing much better, blood pressures stabilized, he wasn't being transfused twice a day, electrolytes leveling out and was way less sensitive. Well later that afternoon I gathered up another nurse, a respiratory therapist and spent about 15 minutes organizing him and all his lines, tubes and leads and was able to help his mom hold him for the first time ever, at this point he was 12 days old. She was so happy. She spoke a different language than I but I didn't need her to verbalize her thanks, she sat there smiling and crying for 3 hours until I had to take him in order to hang his lines before the night shift came on. He stayed completely stable the entire time and was not agitated at all like he had been when not being held. Definitely a good day all around :-D

Quote from Pepper The CatWhen I get my pt into the shower and help her wash her hair for the first time in over a week. Her smile at having clean hair was wonderful. When I got my pt's pain meds re-assessed and the new med helped the pain better than the old me. When I helped my pt have a comfortable, quiet death - I held her hand as she passed on and was happy that I kept him comfortable in his last hours on this Earth. When I supported my pt's family with the difficult decision of putting their Mother into a Nsg Home - telling them that I had to make the same choice with my own Mom and how difficult it was for me. I think them knowing that other people had the same struggles/guilt/etc helped them make their decision. There are many positive things about nsg. Sometimes the smallest thing you do turns out to be huge for the pt. I once had a pt bring me a bottle of wine to thank me for all I did for her. What did I do? I brought her fresh towels in the morning to wash with and gave her fresh water every am. That was it. But she was so thankful for those small things that she wanted to thank me. So the saying that the smallest thing can make someone's day is true.

What inspires you as nurse?

When a patient I've been caring for for the past 3 weeks cries when it comes to saying goodbye at discharge. That's when I know I made the right choice in career.

-- The small note one of my patients wrote that said "Franciscan gypsy paid attention to details. She checked on me when my heart rate went down. I said that it was normal for me. But her attention to detail impressed me." I didn't even remember the patient. I do that for everyone. But the fact that touched him meant a lot to me.-- holding a frightened, upset patient's hand and letting her cry and tell me about her hospital experience-- being able to hug a grieving family member and let them talk out their grief, especially those who are POA and trying to really keep to their family member's wishes AND be the strong one for the rest of the family-- (did this one as a CNA) using my pathetic knowledge of sign language to attempt to communicate with a patient... and seeing her and her son smile and light up when I asked her how to say simple things to her in sign-- being able to take those few extra moments with each patient to let them know that they PERSONALLY are important to me. And watching them respond, watch them laugh with the first dumb joke I say every time I introduce myself. "Hi, my name is Franciscan Gypsy... and there WILL be a quiz at the end of the night." Thank God & my parents for an unusual first name... it's usual good for a first laugh, and, if it isn't, I usually know to assess further (does the patient just not share my sense of humor, are they in pain, or is there a greater problem present?)-- the family member who chases you down to say thank you

pay day

The day I was rushing around for 12 hours straight, barely having a break to throw my food down my throat and go out again to the floor. Basically the most insane day imaginable. And a patient's wife thanked me deeply and sent up a card and rose to the floor for myself and my mentor. That was such an amazing feeling to know that someone noticed my hard work that day and was kind enough to thank me.

i'm just a nursing student and reading all these stories have inspired me even more. i start my first set of clinicals next week and i'm nervous but mostly i'm excited. oh dear god, please help me while i'm trying to help others in need. amen!

Honestly? It's the thank you for taking such good care of me, or you're a great nurse comments. That's all I need. I cherish those words.

The time I had a patient who was a hard a** all shift, constantly bugging me to get the doctor so he could leave and then just before leaving AMA sent me the sweetest card stating that "it's people like you who have made my stay at the hospital more bearable" along with a huge box of chocolates. This was around Christmas time and I hadn't even been working as a nurse for a month. The time I had a rapidly deteriorating pt. who was c/o chest pain who had just a few days ago had an MI in the ICU. I called the RRT and the doctor argued with me that because the pt. was demented he couldn't possibly know that he was in pain. I argued with that doctor right then and there. The ICU nurse later told me that when he had the MI in the unit that he sat bolt upright and grabbed his chest stating that it hurt. Doesn't know he's in pain my a**. The pt. was so rapidly deteriorating that I called his family in per his request. He wanted to be with them and I knew from previous conversations with his wife that she wanted to be with him if something went wrong. Wife came in at about 3 in AM and gave me the longest most heart felt hug for calling her in so she could be with her husband during his final hours. Pt. was a DNR and died the next day. The charge nurse later told me she was proud of me and that I did more for the pt. and family than most other nurses on our unit would have done.The time I had a pt. with chest pain and I called the RRT. The pt. had had a cardiac cath that morning that showed up to 80% blockages on some vessels. The pt. was awaiting a bed at a hospital who could do interventional cardiac caths. The pt.'s ST segment was questionably elevated and we got him shipped out that night. The house superviser, the ICU nurse and the charge nurse all praised me generously that night for being so on top of things and handling that situation well. I later found out that the pt. had to have two stents placed and that we averted an MI. The time I was walking out the door after my shift and one of my demented pt.'s daughters came up to me and hugged me, thanking me for being so patient with their mother and for being "sweet and kind." The times when I'm having incredibly bad shifts (think having to call a code blue and the RRT at the same time for two different patients :O ) and my fellow nurses helping me to care for my other patients while I'm dealing with my more critical pts. I've had a lot of these shifts lately, back to back I might add. In fact, I'm getting a reputation as the RRT queen. They might make me a crown. It's especially nice not hving to worry too much about my other pts. in these situations and knowing that a lot of my coworkers have my back. As a new grad who is only 8 months in, these moments are precious because most days I feel like I suck at my job and I'm just about always overwhelmed. Thanks for allowing me to relive these special moments.