Recently I've been educating about distracted driving in the high schools to fulfill hours for my practicum course. One of the classes I was fortunate to speak in was focused on careers and future aspirations. The teacher asked me to speak a bit at the end about nursing and what it is like to be a nurse. As I started to speak I became excited. I was so proud to talk about my job that I love so much and kept coming back to the idea of being an advocate for others. I find this to be one of the most beautiful pieces of the nursing profession.
Advocacy in nursing comes in so many different forms. On someone's worst day I have the ability to be their voice and advocate for best practice and excellent care. As an educator I have the ability to advocate for my students and support their growth and development. As a relief charge I get to advocate for my nurses in the craziness of our daily work.
When I first began to transition into a relief charge position I was curious as to if I would like not having my own load of patients. Would I miss that patient connection? Would I lose a par of that patient advocacy? Surprisingly I found quite the opposite.
Every shift as leadership we are asked to round on patients in the department. How has your care been? How have we made you feel cared for as person? I was running around trying to check tasks off my daily list when I found myself rounding on a tearful young woman. She was the daughter of a patient who had been living with her for an extended period of time. She had become his caregiver. I sat down to ask my questions starting with “how has your care been today?” This sweet woman broke in to tears as she explained the disease process that took over her father and her fear that she could no longer handle his medical needs. She voiced her internal struggle and how she swore she would never put him in a nursing home, but was realizing right now things were just too much. She wept and I had the honor of listening and allowing her to express the pent up frustration and sadness she had been harboring. I was struck by her honestly and her devotion to family. She was such a strong, kind, and selfless woman, and her father, too weak to speak much for himself, simply looked towards her and smiled. He loved her and the connection these two shared was just beautiful. As he went off for a scan I discussed options with the daughter. I applauded her dedication and the love she possessed and reminded her that she was only one person. She was only one person and her superhuman strength and love could only take her so far. I connected her with our case manager and wished her luck. By the time I walked out of the room we had spent a solid 20 minutes together.
On a busy day as a nurse there is no way I would have been able to sit for that long without being called away to another room. This was a type of patient and family interaction I had not anticipated being in leadership. This was the ability to advocate for the awesome care my nurses provide in addition to giving someone who needs it the space to talk during a life changing event. This advocacy is my favorite part of nursing. Advocating for my staff, for my patients, and for their families. While a charge shift poses different challenges and responsibilities throughout the day, it still provides fulfilling interactions that help reach and care for people in a way I didn’t anticipate. Perspective change is always valuable and this new leadership opportunity has allowed me to open my eyes and see emergency care through a different lens that ultimately broadens my perspective.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Monday, October 2, 2017
Thank You
The last couple of weeks have been rough. I struggled with fatigue in college and it has taken me 7 years to feel like I have a grasp of what I can and can't eat and what fuels verses what fatigues me. For the most part I have a great handle on this, but every once in a while it creeps up on me and robs me of my enthusiasm for life. This is frustrating and when you work 12 hour shifts it tests your patience and ability to hold compassion for others when you can barely hold it together yourself! For someone naturally bubbly and energetic a blow to my stamina feels like a blow to my identity. The struggle feels real.
One of these days was busy. I had psyched myself up to working with the emergent patients in the ER with my light at the end of the day being that I was only working an 8 hour shift. I was able to smile and work my way through the morning which was fairly slow and steady and tried not to acknowledge the heaviness in my limbs.
I had the honor of caring for a very sick septic patient that day who required mostly 1:1 attention for the first few hours of her arrival. She was sick, unstable, and her condition unexpected to her sweet husband who sat by her side the whole time. We were holding ICU patients and so her typical period of stabilization to transfer to CCU was prolonged by the capacity of the hospital. My patient was unable to communicate with me effectively, so I tried my best to explain to her husband what was going on and what to expect. He was calm and open to everything I had to say. Part of me wondered if he fully understood the extent of her condition.
In and out, in and out of her room, small talk with the husband, and simply counting down the hours til I could go home. She was stable when I left that evening and I didn't think much of it. I had just hoped I had been able to give enough that day.
Two days later I was down at the coffee cart when I felt a tap on my shoulder. That same husband approached me and said, "I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did the other day, with my wife. I really appreciated it. Thank you."
I was so appreciative of his words. Every day in this profession we try and try and try, and many days go home not knowing if we did enough. It's these little moments that help remind me why I do what I do. I don't do it for the recognition or the thanks, but when someone takes the time to say they appreciate you, it sure goes a long way.
I think we forget to thank a lot of people in our lives. Remember to appreciate those around you and verbalize it. Sometimes those two little words go a lot further than you would imagine. They did for me.
One of these days was busy. I had psyched myself up to working with the emergent patients in the ER with my light at the end of the day being that I was only working an 8 hour shift. I was able to smile and work my way through the morning which was fairly slow and steady and tried not to acknowledge the heaviness in my limbs.
I had the honor of caring for a very sick septic patient that day who required mostly 1:1 attention for the first few hours of her arrival. She was sick, unstable, and her condition unexpected to her sweet husband who sat by her side the whole time. We were holding ICU patients and so her typical period of stabilization to transfer to CCU was prolonged by the capacity of the hospital. My patient was unable to communicate with me effectively, so I tried my best to explain to her husband what was going on and what to expect. He was calm and open to everything I had to say. Part of me wondered if he fully understood the extent of her condition.
In and out, in and out of her room, small talk with the husband, and simply counting down the hours til I could go home. She was stable when I left that evening and I didn't think much of it. I had just hoped I had been able to give enough that day.
Two days later I was down at the coffee cart when I felt a tap on my shoulder. That same husband approached me and said, "I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did the other day, with my wife. I really appreciated it. Thank you."
I was so appreciative of his words. Every day in this profession we try and try and try, and many days go home not knowing if we did enough. It's these little moments that help remind me why I do what I do. I don't do it for the recognition or the thanks, but when someone takes the time to say they appreciate you, it sure goes a long way.
I think we forget to thank a lot of people in our lives. Remember to appreciate those around you and verbalize it. Sometimes those two little words go a lot further than you would imagine. They did for me.
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