The Nurse Appreciation Thread

[JenBlaze]

After seeing some of the responses nurses got in a different thread, I felt that the wonderful nurses on this board deserved some well-earned praise.

You all are wonderful, caring people, and your care makes all the difference to people who are sick, in pain, and scared.

We appreciate everything that you do.

My story: When I was 19, I got into an abusive relationship, and the only way I got out of it was finding out that I was pregnant. I kicked the jerk out, and I decided that while it wasn't a perfect situation, God had given me this baby for a reason, and I was going to take care of her.

The night before I had her, I had false labor. Everyone else could see it wasn't the real thing from a mile away, but you know us first-timers...

I got into the hospital, and my L&D nurse was a wonderful, warm, caring woman named Amy Lannae. She knew I was alone and scared, and treated me like I was her top priority. When the idiot doctor on call came in, found out it was false labor and yelled at me for five minutes straight, she held me while I cried. (When I said he yelled at me, I mean it. He YELLED.)

I came back the next night, in actual labor, and Amy was there. She found out that I was there, switched nurses so she could be there, and stayed with me. She would've gotten off in 15 minutes when I showed up, and she chose to stay for more than 2 hours, because "I just HAVE to meet this baby!"

Because of Amy, I wasn't alone. I wasn't terrified. I had support.

To all of you nurses who have gone out of your way for a patient - thank you. From the bottom of our hearts.

 

[Danauk]

I have never been in hospital (thankfully) and so have never really been cared for by a nurse. However like I
said on the other thread I have the upmost respect for nurses and could not do thier jobs in a million years. You are wonderful.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Three cheers for nurses!

My mom used to have a plaque that read "hug a nurse PRN"

Thank you for all that you do. We would all be in trouble without you wonderful women and men.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I was in the hospital only 2 times in my life and had great experiences with nurses both times.

1. I thought I was having a heart attack. Not fun at 27 Then they thought I had a blood clot in my lung. Turns out I had pnemonia The nurses were wonderful.

2. When I had my son. Again, they were so awesome!!

Great job and thanks in advance for any future visits!

 

[lilallybean]

That was so nice of you to start this nice thread! Thanks from one touched nurse! I just have to say that sometimes our patients never know what they give back to us. I know I have been rewarded by several of my patient in ways that I can't explain. One time on a long drive with my sister and her three kids we saw a very bad accident and stopped to help. I directed the care of minor injuries and took care of the one very serious injury. After the ambulance got there and our patients were off we got back in the car and headed off on our way. No names given and no way of knowing how it ended up. I was still rewarded, my young niece hugged me and said "Aunt Ally you are a REAL hero!" Wow, I will always remember the impact that made for both of us.

 

[meeshi]

Two years ago my youngest dd became very ill and spent a total of 3 months in the hospital. She was in for 6 weeks, home 3 months and back in for another 6 weeks. I honestly don't know what I would have done without her wonderful nurses, they helped me keep my sanity at times. They were so good to her, they would come in and visit and make her laugh.

When she was first admitted she was in the PICU and her nurse there was absolutely amazing. She was so efficient and caring. DH and I knew she must have been an angel the way she cared for dd.

So this very grateful mom would like to thank all you wonderful nurses...

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

My LD nurse for DD1 (now 5) was AWESOME! I loved her. I actually got to the hospital right before shift change (5:30 am), so I got the nurse coming onto shift (7am to 7pm). She was great despite the bumbling family practice resident who "managed" my labor (hospital policy where I delivered DD1). After 2 1/2 hours of pushing, the resident said that I should push a little longer then he would call the OB for delivery (I had been in labor since 11pm, and it was now 5pm the next day; I was exhausted). My LD nurse mouthed to me that she would call the OB. She did, and after 5 minutes of explanation of vacuum-vs-forceps, and a 10-minute set up, DD1 arrived (with the help of forceps) at 5:20pm at 8lbs, 6oz.

I wish I remembered her name, but she was awesome!!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by JenBlaze
After seeing some of the responses nurses got in a different thread, I felt that the wonderful nurses on this board deserved some well-earned praise.

You all are wonderful, caring people, and your care makes all the difference to people who are sick, in pain, and scared.

We appreciate everything that you do.

My story: When I was 19, I got into an abusive relationship, and the only way I got out of it was finding out that I was pregnant. I kicked the jerk out, and I decided that while it wasn't a perfect situation, God had given me this baby for a reason, and I was going to take care of her.

The night before I had her, I had false labor. Everyone else could see it wasn't the real thing from a mile away, but you know us first-timers...

I got into the hospital, and my L&D nurse was a wonderful, warm, caring woman named Amy Lannae. She knew I was alone and scared, and treated me like I was her top priority. When the idiot doctor on call came in, found out it was false labor and yelled at me for five minutes straight, she held me while I cried. (When I said he yelled at me, I mean it. He YELLED.)

I came back the next night, in actual labor, and Amy was there. She found out that I was there, switched nurses so she could be there, and stayed with me. She would've gotten off in 15 minutes when I showed up, and she chose to stay for more than 2 hours, because "I just HAVE to meet this baby!"

Because of Amy, I wasn't alone. I wasn't terrified. I had support.

To all of you nurses who have gone out of your way for a patient - thank you. From the bottom of our hearts.

What a wonderful story Jenblaze!!!

 

[pw2pp]

Thank you JenBlaze, that is very sweet of you.

I have been a Nurse almost 20 years now and was a Nurse's Aide for 5 years before that (so that's 25 out of my 42 years on this Earth that I have been taking care of people).

So if I have a little fun with a crazy story of something that happened with a patient (as on the other thread), I hope people can understand that (it's not like anyone is naming patient's names or breaching confidentiality or anything like that.

You gotta laugh a little to keep from going crazy in this line of work.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

When I went to the ER last weekend with severe female bleeding I was terrified. Not only was I 20 hours away from home but I was 45 minutes from campus with only my boyfriend by my side.
The nurse who took me into the ER stayed by my side the ENTIRE time i was in the ER and explained everything to me, even holding my hand during the pelvic exam since I had never had one. I was near tears because i was in so much pain and freaking out.
When I got moved to the Post-Partum ward where the doctor taking care of me insisted I went, all 3 nurses came in and introduced themselves immediately realizing how terrified I was. They needed to come in and monitor my bleeding every hour and they were always so comforting.
I was in a double room but there was no roommate so my boyfriend could stay with me. He didn't want to sleep in the other bed because he wanted to be able to hold my hand SO he pulled one of the rather uncomfortable chairs they have in the room to sleep in. The nurse saw him in this chair and immediately brought him in a reclining chair that would be so much more comfortable.
The nurses were amazing and stood by my side as I had the surgery explained to me and after surgery were so understanding (my newly acquired roomie on the other hand was not).

I could not have asked for better nurses so to all of you on the DIS.....THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

Thank you all for these nice stories.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Just thought I would bump this up so more AMAZING nurses on the DIS could see it

 

[meandtheguys]

Hi all of you lovely nurses! My mom is a nurse and I have watched her come home for 30 years, laughing or crying! I just want to send a big to a group of people who are so self-sacrificing. Have an awesome day knowing that you are appreciated!

Michelle

 

[JC2]

As a nurse, I want to thank you all for taking the time to share you appreciation! It really does mean a lot!

 

[Disney Doll]

Amazing how the other thread where nurses are being slammed has stayed on page 1 but this one is falling behind!!!!!

 

[floridafam]

We had wonderful nurses who took care of our daughter when she had Group B Strep. They made us feel so comfortable and always went out of their way to be helpful.

One of the nurses walked over to the hospital with me after they took my daughter's temp. She explained that my DD would need a spinal tap and exactly what they would do. She held my hand as I cried.

One night while my daughter was in the hospital one of the nurses put her in a carriage down at the nurses station while she did paperwork because she wanted to keep a close eye on my DD and didn't want her to be alone while I went home to get a change of clothes. How special is that?

Another night I came back and one of the nurses was rocking my DD in the rocking chair.

The Doctors and Nurses at the hospital saved my daughter's life.

THANK YOU

 

[kasar]

Hey all you nurses: You're my heroes! Thanks for doing what nobody else wants to do, thanks for caring about people who are awful and don't really deserve it, thanks for bringing people into the world (in my experience, it's the nurses who do most of the work in delivery) and thanks for helping people leave with grace and dignity.

When I brought my brand new DD into the ER (Children's Hosp) for a strange bump on her head (otherwise perfectly healthy), all different nurses kept coming in just to hold her - no other reason. When I asked why they said that they see so many sick, sick babies and when they see a chubby, pink little baby, they need to give it a hug to "recharge" themselves. It really put into perspective first, how lucky we were, and second how difficult that job must be for those nurses every day. God bless you all.

 

[Talking Hands]

2 stories
#1
When I had my oldest DD she was transferred to the NICU at Miami Children's Hospital since the hospital I was at didn't have one. I had a c-section and other complications so I could not go to see her. The nurses at the NICU took Polaroids of my daughter and sent them to me. They also called me daily to let me know how she was doing and told me to call anytime I wanted to check on her. Her godmother's Mom Granny Clark, worked in the step up unit so she went to visit her daily and refused to take her vacation until my daughter was released from the hospital. Those nurses were the best.

#2
A little less than 2 years ago I fell and shattered my left leg and ankle requiring surgery to fix it. I am hard of hearing and was unable to use my hearing aids due to some telemetry equipment being used by my roommate. Apparently the aids interferred with the equipment. There was one nurse on the floor who signs. She came in the last 2 days and made sure I understood all the instructions I needed so I could go home. She was so sweet and helpful. The other nurses did a great job as well but often I couldn't get what they were saying what with no aids and being very doped up on pain meds.

 

[Fire14]

I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for starting and continuing to post to this Thread. I'm a nurse and after working the 8 hrs I did last night I sure needed this pick me up.

 

[froglady]

I have always tried to keep some words of wisdom that an "old school" nurse gave me when I was a student.

"No matter how routine and familiar this job becomes, you should always remember that for most people, this is the worst thing that has ever happened to them. What is often "routine" and no big deal to you is a terrifying, life altering, experience for them. (Even having a baby) Remember to handle them with TLC."

I was never a hospital patient until AFTER I left nursing; it's a completely different experience being in the bed!