Why I love nurses


 
I have a lot of respect for nurses. And not just because my sister is one.

 When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I eventually moved in with him to care for him. I prepared meals. Cleaned house and did laundry. Cleaned wound sites and emptied drains. I helped him to the bathroom. Gave him sponge baths. I did what I could to make him comfortable.

I did all this because I loved him.

 Nurses, on the other hand, may not know their patients. But they know that their patients depend on them.
 
 

They not only take care of their patient's needs, but those of the patient's families. They answer questions. Calm worries. Provide hope.

They work long hours, mostly on their feet. They sacrifice nights, weekends and holidays with their own families to care for someone else.

And then there's those who nurse the terminally ill. I think there's a special place in heaven for them.

My dad had some of the best nurses in his last days. They were compassionate. They listened to him and to us. They let us know what to expect and how to plan for the end. And when the end came, they held our hands and dried our tears.


Yes, I have a lot of respect for nurses. God bless you all for everything you do!


Comments

  1. Syndi,
    My sister is also a nurse. She worked in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit for 20 years, and I don't know how she did it. All those teeny tiny babies, so sick...it breaks my heart. But she loved it. It is, however, very stressful and it took it's toll on her. I agree that nurses are very special people, and the world is a better place because of them.

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    1. Marcy, I agree that the world is a better place because of nurses. I am amazed at the quality of care they provide.

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  2. Hi Syndi,
    When my grandmother passed away earlier this year, she'd spent the majority of the last year of her life in hospital and yes, everytime I spoke to her, she couldn't praise her nurses enough. They really did make her last few months as comfortable as possible. Great post!

    xo
    Jen

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    1. Jen, I am sorry for your loss. I'm glad your grandmother had such great nurses!

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  3. Syndi - how right you are! My dearest friend in the whole world just retired from nursing. For 37 years I've watched her miss get-togethers because she was on call (she was a surgery nurse) miss many of her own family's special events for the same reason. She did it with remarkable good cheer and the sincere belief that her job was a mission. Now she's looking to volunteer as a hospice nurse. I can't imagine having the grace and control to do that. Big thank-you to all nurses everywhere!

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    1. Muriel, what a special friend! As I said, hospice nurses have a special place in my heart because they give so much not only to the patient, but to the family too. I wish her luck!

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  4. I was just going to leave a comment about how great hospice nurses are. They know from the outset they handle the end game. Trauma nurses, military field nurses, and palliative care nurses have special genes I'm positive. And Syndi, being a care-giver to someone you love is not an easy job by any means. You're a special lady.

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    1. Roz, I have a cousin who is an ER trauma nurse, and I don't know how she does it. I have trouble with the mention of blood much less seeing it. My sister used to work with terminally ill children but she's switched floors. She said that she would go home and hug her kids extra hard. The little annoying things they did mattered less because at least they were healthy. Thank you, Roz.

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  5. Cheering for nurses!!! I worked in the cardiac unit, was a first responder for Codes, and eventually becoming a vascular ultasonographer before retraining to be a teacher. I have such deep respect for these hardworking dedicated professionals with the biggest hearts on earth!! Thank you for celebrating them, Syndi!!

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  6. Syn, With Chris it was always the nurses that really contributed to our care. They gave us the practical information we needed to live life. The in home and then the Hospice nurses we had were the best. They had information for us and the girls every day. They also were the people who could tell us like it was. Most doctors seemed to hedge around the fact Chris was dying. It was the nurses that could talk to us and directly answer our questions and answer them with out worrying about "destroying our hope". Having someone to talk to candidly was priceless.

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