Have you hugged your nurse today? If you have ever had a nurse show you compassion, explain away the fear, take a little more time, or "do it quickly", if thats what you needed, today is the day to say Thanks.
Today is National Nurse's Day.
To those Gatherers among us who are proteges of ole Flo Nightengale, I wish you love, peace, and light for all that you do every day. I wish you long weekends, extra vacations and easy patients. I wish you shorter hours, more pay and more benefits. I wish you legible doctor's orders and on time lab work. I wish you tolerable physicians, caring supervisors and administration.
Those of us in the profession may be lucky enough to receive a new highlighter or even a new pair of bandage scissors from our employers. I know you fellow nurses are all waiting with bated breath for that accolade. I know I am.
SO,
To the nurse who calmed my nerves with Valium before my Heart Catheterization, Thank You.
To the nurse who tried one more time to insert the IV in my foot when all the other veins were blown, Thank you
To the nurse who kept me informed of the smallest detail when my husband was dying, Thank You
To the nurse who made my child laugh when administering a shot, Thank you
To the nurse who laughed with me, not at me during the Stress Test, Thank You
The Nightengale Pledge:
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
The above oath is the oath all nurses take when graduating nursing school. It was composed by Lystra Gretter, a nursing instructor at the Harper Hospital in Detroit Michigan. It was first used in 1893. It is an adaptation of the Hippocratic Oath that Physicians take upon graduation from Medical school.
If you have ever known a nurse or been helped by one, Thank them today and thank them again tomorrow.
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Comments: 52
Good Job
No, Hon, you couldn't get well without us...Thanks!
I still think all medical schools should have ongoing classes in "Bedside Manner 101"..102..103....
I hug her every day :-)
Happy N day to you Wilma. Sorry bout that arm, and hope it heals quickly.
Dan, Me thinks we've found us a perv amongst us...We're Nurses not NursING
, hon...but we love ya anyways
Audrey, Thanks for the sign..its lovely. Its kind of coincidental also...I have that same border on my "welcome" sign outside my front door.
I have a high respect for school nurses. They have a really tough job, with all the regulations these days.
Connie,
Ain't it great having a nurse for a neighbor?
Gary, Then you best get that little woman a bouquet today, and a couple extra hugs. Aw hell, throw in a kiss or two for good measure.
Amy,
We're all just a bunch of softies, aren't we...I know I am.
Thank you sincerely.
Good Lord, I hope you never get sick!!!! Tom, I hope you never go to the same restaurant twice, or I'll bet there is a little something in your burger that you didn't order. Wait staff don't even make the minimum wage, for God's sake. They make their living off tips. Do you think they do it for the joy of serving YOU?
Do either of you WORK for a living? EVERYONE wants recognition for a job well done.
The problem is that Nurses are seriously overworked and underpaid . Sometimes Thanks is all we can look forward to.
"if I were a nurse I sure wouldn't want to be hugged by all my patients."
Ahhh, but if you WERE a nurse, you would.
You are however right that people SHOULD be paid properly, but the fact is, they're(we're) not.
Waiting on someone in a restaurant is not begging, however. It is common knowledge that wait staff should be compensated accordingly for good service.
Its a shame you view it as such.
It is a courtesy to tip service personnel such as your hairdresser, the kid who mows your lawn, luggage handler, cab driver etc.. if the service is above the norm . It is a nicety, which some people do not only because it is expected, but because it shows appreciation.
Going to look up yours now...Thanks, and Happy Day, Week, and Life to you!
When i have to have surgury Im always very polite with the nurses because they're taking care of me and I thank them several times during my stay. But Im not going to hug them for it. If I know the nurse im going to hug them but seriously they're doing their job and by making me happy when i leave, i think that's enough for them. Afterall, I would be happy with myself if the patient left happy and it would be enough for me. The ones that think they should get a high five or hug for doing their job is just flat out dumb. Unless the employee is retarded then I would give them a high five or hug because they're special, not you. So do your jobs and stop expecting more, your not a child anymore. You dont get a gold star for doing your job well; you sometimes get a promotion though.
Keep up the good work or dont work please.
I agree with you on the tipping, BUT... I wrote this article because it is NATIONAL NURSE'S DAY. Nurses have to put up with an awful lot of BS in their daily jobs, which is why they all deserve a well rounded Thanks. It takes a very special individual to put up with all that we put up with. Are you saying that if we are not 100% fulfilled in our positions, we should not be nurses in a time of a severe nursing shortage in this country? Who would care for the patients then? The doctors? Not in this lifetime. The aides? They do not have the technical skill, although most would give it the old college try. We do it because we care about other human beings, and desire to relieve their suffering. Why did you even comment if you merely wanted to say that you don't respect what we do?
Like I said before, I hope you don't eat at the same place twice. I have heard that poor tippers , especially those with an attitude such as yours can generally find a nice loogie somewhere in their dinner....Bon Appetite.
To answer your first question I would say yes because if you truely love your job and are giving 100% in it then you will be happy doing it. Well, there are tons of people that can replace any type of job, it doesnt matter what your doing because there is always someone that can replace you. The doctors are too busy so they wouldn't likely help out so that's out of the question.
Your question about me adding my thoughts is something that I felt I should voice. I like to be controversial in almost any topic that comes up. That is just who I am. I like to stir things up because it's a way to bring someone into their real character. I'm not saying im a jerk, but I wont hold back my feelings unless its my mother or father that im talking to.
Believe me, I respect nurses to the fullest extent. A nurse's job is extremely difficult and very tiresome. Before i changed my future career, I wanted to become a nurse. I enjoy helping people out and making them happy. But that changed. Im sorry if I gave you the wrong impression but I have a deep respect for nurses because you have to be strong to come to a hospital that is filled with tons of patients. I just dont agree with the "Hug a Nurse Day". You come to work to do your job and then at the end of the week or bi-week, you get paid for your hard work. Im not going to hug/tip someone for doing their job unless they're underpaid.
It would be nice to see more join the field, and hopefully these new schools will lead the way. You are on target about retirement in general too, but most companies , even those with 401k plans invest heavily in thierseelves, so the employee doesn't earn much when they do invest, unless the company is doing well, and continues to do so over the years.
I LOVED the nurses, most of whom taught me so much and, seemingly, without effort, although I know better. They work so hard.
I have seen upset patients and bickering or highly agitated families straighten right up because a senior nurse walked in the room. By her presence and manner, she changed the whole environment without a word. Kind of like a tough but loved teacher. I doubt a doctor could have done the same thing. Nurses have special powers.
Most people appreciate nurses without ever having had the chance to see the inspired, creative and marvelous things they do for patients.
Thanks for reminding everyone.
Yep, and I was made to go in last fall to work an 11-7, after I had already worked the 7-3:30, and was SUPPOSED to be off with bilat. pneumonia. I was the "on-call" that week, so I had to do it , even with a 102 fever and hacking my lungs up.
But we keep on keepin' on, don't we...I think we're hard wired for it, at least I am.
Thanks!!
CB,
I have met some terrific administrators in my time, and you seem to be one of the "keepers". Its a great thing with adm. sees us as more than PPDs.
Happy Belated Nurse's day...glad you liked it.
(Donna...you have to check out my latest articles.....I was your granny's nurse Jr. this mod!!!)