Making a Difference

Tonight was my last of three 12's and  I was anticipating a fairly smooth night with my same 4 patients from the last two nights. However, as anyone one that is a nurse might know having a smooth night just a nice thought that very rarely occurs. My shift  started really crazy busy with a suprise admission from the ER that I did not even know had arrived in the room. The only reason I went into that room was to set it up for when my patient arrived. To my suprise the patient was already there when I walked in. I had no idea how long they had been there. At least 20 minutes. Whoever brought this patient up from the ER did not notify anyone that they were here. Not me. Not the clerk. Not the charge nurse. Only reason I cared was because the patient came up with a PCA (Patient controlled analgesia). For those of you that are not nurses this is a pump that is connected to the patients IV (intravenous) and has  remote that they can push the botton and it will give them a dose of a narcotic usually hydromorphone commonly known as dilaudid. This pump requires 2 nurses to sign off on it in the computer anytime the patient is being handed off to another nurse. So this was the main reason I was upset with the situation. But I didnt have time to dwell on someone elses carelessness. I just called one of my coworkers in and signed it off with her and got on with my shift. Once I got everything under control it was about 10 pm. Everyones vitals, assessments bedtime beds were given, they were "fluffed and tucked" as I like to call it and ready for bed. I went to the break room to sit down and have snack before I started on all my charting in the computer and I found out from my charge nurse that a patient I had taken care of 2 weeks ago that is on our unit still had just passed away. Just when I thought my night was going to get better right? I was shocked to hear the news. I had build a pretty good relationship with this patient (pt). I took care of her for 6 days. She was pretty sick. She was suffering from end stage renal disease and liver failure. She was only 40 years old. Her and I connected on the same level because she told me about her father who is sick and she wanted to get better to get home and take care of him. I too being a "daddy's girl" understood exactly how she felt and told her about a time when my father was hospitalized and was really sick. Long story short as her boy friend called it, we had 30 to 40 minute conversations of "girl talk". Once I heard the news I decided I was going to go over to her room and give my condolences.

I walked into her room and there was 6 family members in there. I had only met the boy friend. I had told myself I would be brief and I would not cry. I walked in and reintroduced myself and the boyfriend told me he knows who I am and I told him and the family I wanted to stop by and give my condolences. The boyfriend turned around to the mom and told her, "this is the nurse that ___connected with about her dad". The mom looked at me and said, "ohhh, that was you??" and went into telling me about how my patient told her mom all about me. How much she appreciated me and that she saw me as a sister. The mom told me I made a huge difference in her spirits and getting better in such a hard time for her daughter. Her mom thanked me over and over again for being so kind and supportive to her daughter when she was so sick. Then she introduced me to my patients father. At this point I was already crying. Then the father started thanking me and telling me he appreciated everything I did for her. And that my patient had spoke so many good things about me he couldnt thank me enough. It was a bitter sweet moment. My patient that had passed away was in a better place now. And the conversations I had with her I did not even think touched her in the way that her parents had told me tonight. I just wanted to be there for her and support her through a tough time. Although I was sad for their loss, it made me feel really good to know that I could make a difference.

That event tonight reminded me exactly why I chose nursing. I chose nursing because I wanted to make a difference. I want to make an impact. Many times as a nurse it can be frustrating. And dont get me wrong this patient that passed away she was the typical patient that noone was exactly thrilled to care for. She was VRE and Cdiff. Bipolar. Very anxious. Very moody. You had to be extremely patient and understanding with her. That is something I am very good at. I couldnt be more thankful today that I had the opportunity to care for her. I am sure there are plenty of nurses out there doing the exact same thing daily and dont even know it. I truly believe people just dont know how to express their gratitude for the people that are there for them at the lowest times. But, my take way message from tonight is, treat every patient no matter how difficult, how sick, or how annoying they may be as if it were ur loved one in that bed. I garauntee your outlook on how you provide care to that patient will change and you will find a "soft spot" in your heart to provide the best care you can for him/her.

Make a difference.

Until next time.

-Norah

Hello!

Hello,

I've created this blog to journal my journey of nursing by sharing my thoughts and experiences. I am sure there are plenty of nurses/murses out there that experience the same type of stuff I do on a regular basis and would love to hear back from you ladies and gentlemen. I absolutely love nursing. I have a passion for it. I love helping people even on those nights that I have the most difficult patient somewhere in my heart I end up having a soft spot for them. 

A little background on me. I am a night  shift nurse on an orthopedic/trauma/burn floor. But not limited to those as you might know how it goes. We get plastics, oncology, pediatrics (the teenagers), neuro, and medicine patients as well. I work at a level one trauma center and burn hospital so I see some pretty crazy things. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. However, I recently found out I have been accepted to my graduate program of choice so I am currently on the job hunt because I will be relocating this summer. I am excited to go back to school and I will be in a city that has the top 2 ranked hospitals in my state and both are nationally ranked one is 5th the other is 12th. I am hoping I will land a job at one of these facilities while going to school. 

That in a nut shell is me and what I am up to at this point in my life. I will be blogging as events happen that stir my thoughts about nursing, healthcare, management, or patients in general. I hope to touch/inspire people in one way or another. Please feel free to comment. 

Until next time.

-Norah