Nurses

This morning a friend posted a homework question to Facebook: "What do Nurses do?". The immediate response of most people is, EVERYTHING! I agree completely with that, but it got me to thinking about all of the incredible nurses, CNAs and therapists we have encountered over the last year and everything they have done for us.

My nurses were my advocates when I could not speak, fiercely so.

• One of my ICU nurses almost physically removed a sono tech from my room because she was so unreasonable (she wanted me to roll over and could not understand why that was physically impossible). 
• One of my hospital nurses removed a teaching nurse and her student from my room because they were so involved in their instruction they forgot their patient was a human being. That was the last instructor/student to come into my room during my stay, I never had to say a thing.
• One of my nursing home nurses refused to remove my pick line a day before I was to have surgery because she knew I'd be getting an IV the next day and didn't want me to get stuck again.  She caught hell for that and never regretted her decision for a moment.
• The Physician's Assistants I had at the hospital listened to me carefully and with great respect and helped me manage my pain and sanity with grace and dignity.

My nurses made me feel human.

• One of my hospital nurses shaved my legs for me.  She did not ask someone else to do it for her, she did it herself.  As she was doing it she told me she'd never shaved anyone else's legs before.  She was very careful and did a great job.  She helped me to feel more like myself.
• Some of my nurses prayed for me, over me and with me.  One even called me on her day off to find out what time my surgery was set for so she could pray for me.
• One of my nursing home nurses helped me through several truly humiliating situations without batting an eye and without every making me feel embarrassed. Afterwards she would talk to me and tell me it was already forgotten and that I had nothing to feel embarrassed about (oh, but I did, any self respecting person would).  She downplayed it so much I felt better immediately.  I never worried that she ever said a word to anyone. She is amazing.
• I had a patient advocate who worked with the hospital to coordinate my transfers back and forth to the nursing home.  I mentioned that I wished I could wash my hair.  She found an inflatable tub designed to wash a patients hair while they are in bed, got shampoo and washed my hair herself.  This woman's main job was paperwork and she took the time to do that for me! 
• My CNAs at the nursing home, there simply aren't words!  They washed me, shaved me, wiped me, showered me, clothed me and fed me.  They transferred me from my bed by physically lifting me, used a hoyer lift or helped me slide over when I was strong enough.  They listened to me, respected me and treated me as their friend or family.  
• At first, transfers were very difficult and painful.  I remember one young woman who cried when she thought she caused me pain during a transfer.  I wanted to hug her.  I told her I knew she would never intentionally cause me pain and that I knew how much she cared for me.

They cared for my family

• At the nursing home they brought a cot into my room so that my daughter could spend the night with me whenever she wanted.  The nurses made her bed, fed her and made her feel at home.
• They all asked about my family, kept my husband up to date and accommodated us in every way possible.
• At the nursing home they even cared about my dogs and were thrilled when they would come to visit. By the way, I have two German Shepherds.
• They transported me to the High School so that I could see my son run the last cross country meet of his high school career.  They stayed with me to make sure I was safe and cheered him on.
• They took pictures of my daughter when she came with her school to sing for us and play Christmas Carols.

My Therapists

• Had more faith in me than I had in myself.
• They prepared me for my future.  They made it possible for me to sit, shower, stand and walk.
• They were always positive but tough, were always thinking about what I needed to do next and how they could get me there. 
• Helped to heal my mind and soul as much as my body and spirit.

The day I had my fixator removed, the therapists at the hospital came in to see how I was doing. They first had me sit up on the side of the bed.  This was something I had been doing with the help of my Therapists at the nursing home.  I was able to do that so well, they decided to see if I could stand.  I could, for the first time in 4 months.  Then, she told me to take a step. I did.  I looked up and everyone in the room was crying.  I had never met these women before and they were crying for me.  My nurse had to leave the room before she had a breakdown. 

 

I owe it all to the constant and dedicated work of my entire support team: from, God, to my family, to the doctors and surgeons to all of the nurses, therapists and CNAs to the Paramedics to transported me first to the hospital and then back and forth to my many appointments to all of my friends and my community, I say Thank You and again, Thank You!

I could write about this forever.  These people cheered for me, cried with me and held me up when I could not walk.  They are the reason I am here today.  I will never be able to thank them enough.