I'm a nurse and though I've had many nurses I've worked with and loved that I respected and looked up to, it's the kids I cared for when I did pediatric home care that made the biggest impact on me.
The babies that weren't supposed to live, but are now 6, 12, 22 yrs old. The trust they gave me to keep them alive with an ambu bag for hours when a vent malfunctioned, the look in their eyes when I walked in to parents doing what they could while their child turned gray in front of them, the panic on their faces, in her eyes, as they tried to remain calm while an ambulance was called, all the while fighting not to show their child their fear that she was dying.
The child slowly dying from an incurable brain tumor I sat with all night so his parents could get some much needed sleep, trusting me to keep him out of pain.
The mom who didn't speak English who sent me home after 2 hours night after night because she trusted no one to care for her son except her, to gain her trust and become part of their family, celebrating holy days, birthdays, American holidays, and mourning with them when bad news was received from home
The young man who at 18 gained the strength to tell his parents no more, that he was done with hospitals and doctors, and that he was ready to accept the consequences of his decision, knowing he would die.
The preschooler I watched, and helped, wean off the vent, and meds, and said good bye to as she was now healthy enough she no longer needed nursing care, and I learned Viagra has many uses, even in 2 year old girls.
The baby we were told was blind and deaf, that couldn't sit unassisted or roll over at a year old...to see her now running, playing, eating, smiling at her favorite video and signing more over and over when it ended.
Each child, each family, each family member made an impact on me. Each one lives in my heart. Each one stole a piece of my heart. Each one I loved and cared for like they were my own.
Patients often don't realize the impact they have on their nurses. They don't realize how much they teach us. Christian, your family, have touched many lives, each of them better for it.
For us it's not a matter of "what did I learn from my nurse" it's more "what did my patient teach me today"60
The mom who didn't speak English who sent me home after 2 hours night after night because she trusted no one to care for her son except her, to gain her trust and become part of their family, celebrating holy days, birthdays, American holidays, and mourning with them when bad news was received from home.
The young man who at 18 gained the strength to tell his parents no more, that he was done with hospitals and doctors, and that he was ready to accept the consequences of his decision, knowing he would die.
The preschooler I watched, and helped wean off the vent, and meds, and said good bye to as she was now healthy enough she no longer needed nursing care.
The baby we were told was blind and deaf, that couldn't sit unassisted or roll over at a year old...to see her now running, playing, eating, smiling at her favorite video and signing more over and over when it ended.
Each child, each family, each family member made an impact on me. Each one lives in my heart. Each one stole a piece of my heart. Each one I loved and cared for like they were my own.
Patients often don't realize the impact they have on their nurses. They don't realize how much they teach us.
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