As a nurse I have strived to be compassionate,empathetic and as caring as possible. Some days granted my envelope gets pushed and I may respond to someone or something in as not as a caring manner as I should. I am not perfect, surprise!
I often wonder how my care is perceived by patients, I have been thanked many times and told that I have provided good care, but I wonder was there ever something simple that I did that made a difference for a patient.
Yesterday, I was the patient. I had to go into the hospital for a test. This test required that I have IV sedation and hence I was seen by many nurses.
The first nurse greeted me with a smile. She took me into my cubicle showed me the lovely hospital gown that I would have to put on. She instructed me to get up on the stretcher once changed and that she would be right back. Upon her return the first thing she asked me was if I was comfortable and could she get me a warm blanket. I assured her I was comfortable and that a warm blanket wasn't necessary but thanked her anyhow. She then went on to ask me the routine health questions and as a prudent nurse she had read my chart and started by saying "I see that Dr.....but is there anything else you would like to add or that I should know?" I thought to myself, good for you for taking the time to review my chart...good for you for asking me if there was anything to add. Once we had reviewed the necessary documents she started my IV. I swear she was so slick she could have found a vein on a corpse. I was suitably impressed. Once again she asked me if she could get me a warm blanket, I assured her I was fine but I am sure I would love one post procedure. I wondered for a moment if she was being so kind because she knew I was a RN or if she was like this with all of her patients. I soon found out that indeed she was like that with all of her patients. WOW I was impressed.
It wasn't long after that another nurse came checked my name band and wheeled me into the procedure room, she and her colleague like a well oiled machine went over the procedure with me and told me what was going to happen...my only request was that I didn't want to remember any of the procedure, and I didn't. Once the Dr. came in we had a little chat, he told me what he was going to do...gave me my sedation and I was out...next thing I remember I was in the recovery room and apparently I had been in recovery for a half hour before the nurse started to wake me up.
It came time for me to get dressed and move over to the area where they give you a snack and then send you on your way. Well I made it to getting dressed....well sort of and then I felt like I was going to be sick, according to my nurse I went pasty white and then of course I was ill. She was so kind, she settled me back into bed gave me some medication for my nausea and instructed me to have another little rest. Which I gladly did. It came time to try getting up once again, it was a no go...I got my head up off of the pillow and began to wretch. Back to laying down I went. Finally I was able to get up, but my knees were so weak they decided I needed a wheelchair to take me over to the area where I would have a snack. Thank goodness I was the last patient of the day. I get over there and I attempt to have some water...that worked...then a sip of gingerale....oops not a good idea....I vomit again. More IV medicine for the nausea. At this point I was feeling so bad for keeping them late. The nurses were so good, they got me warm blankets, and let me just rest. Finally, I felt I was ready to leave. Actually, I kept saying I was ready, but they knew better, they told me I had the look of a deer in headlights. They insisted my husband use a wheelchair to take me to our vehicle.
It was the little things these nurses did for me that stand out. The offering of a warm blanket, the mouthwash so I could freshen my mouth after being ill, the simple fact that they weren't rushing me out so they could go home. They were kind caring and compassionate.
To me it's the little things in nursing that make the difference, the things as a patient you will remember.
