"Thank You"

I don't mean to complain because I'm truly grateful that I have my dream career, but sometimes nursing is a thankless job.  You'd like to think it's all smiles and "Thank you!  You took great care of me today!," but those phrases seem to be rare.  That wouldn't be so hard, if it weren't mixed with:

- a schedule that doesn't jive with my circadium rhythm (which happens to be nocturnal... I can't stand waking up to an alarm at 5 AM!)

- our unit working so hard to cut costs, thereby sending a nurse home halfway through the shift and making the other nurses take the extra patients, causing a very heavy workload

- doctors not even knowing what to do with a patient/what the plan is, so you are stuck with a frustrated family after the doctors deliver the news and then leave

- 12 hour shifts turning into 14 hours for me because I'm a perfectionist and pain-stakingly thorough in my charting

- my 2 hour commute (round trip), which I know is my own fault, but still...

- multiple other reasons that frustrate me!

Sometimes, my job is so hard that I want to go in the bathroom and cry.

BUT

Then you get that one patient who is so freakin' amazing, and their family is just awesome.  And you bond with them, and they say things like, "I hope you'll be our nurse again soon."  or "Thank you."  Wow, those two words can make my day!

I've had two of those patients for the last couple of weeks.  One was a patient with VP shunt problems who had never been to Primary Childrens before. The patient had been living in pain at 10/10 on the 1-10 scale.  When our neurosurgeon, Dr. Walker figured out the problem and "fixed" the shunt, the pain was gone and this patient had a new lease on life.  This depressed soul turned into one who wanted to graduate early, get their drivers liscence, go out and do things with friends, pretty much take on the world.  I admitted this patient who had no nope, and I got to see them *smile* the night before discharge.  Yes, Dr. Walker did the surgery, but the patient and mother told me they appreciated me and my care for the 4-5 shifts I had them.  Those words, accompanied by the expressions of joy, relief and gratitude on their faces, made my day.

The other kiddo was a newly diagnosed tumor.  They have made the hospital their new temporary home, and I'm lucky enough to be one of their primary nurses.  Brain tumors are sad because they have the ability to transform a person into something they are not (mood/emotion changes).  I've been there from the beginning and seen this patient turn back into the child, grandchild and sibling that his family had been missing so badly.  That's pretty awesome.  What's even more awesome is the sense of humor this family has and the happiness that is in that patient's room.  I look forward to going to work because of this patient who now laughs at my jokes and the family who knows I will give their child the care I would give to my own family member.  I spent an extra 30 minutes talking to them one night because I really wanted to stay and listen to their concerns/try to provide some comfort. They said, "We're really going to miss you."  Made my day.

When I'm up to my eyes in charting every single detail for the last 13 hours on every single patient I've had that shift, call lights are going off like crazy, and doctors are writing new orders that will take another hour to execute, I seriously question my coping capability.  I just want to go home to my husband after not seeing him for 14 hours.  But then a simple "Thank you" makes it all worth it.

These patients are why I love being a nurse on the NeuroScience Trauma Unit at Primary Childrens Medical Center.  They remind me why it is that I tell people over and over again, "I really love my job."