Hey everyone just incase you are not aware May 8-12th is a special week in the health care industry. It’s Nurses Week!So I write this post in honor of nurses here in the US and worldwide
Nurses are a peculiar breed, we eat and sleep at odd times of the day and night (depending on the shift). We talk about body parts and things excreted from the body while we eat our lunch, the grosser the better. Our sense of humor is a little different to most people and friends and family shouldn’t expect sympathy from us when they complain about aches and pains (we have seen far worse)….like the doctor said, ” Take two Tylenol and call me in the morning.”
We get excited over a juicy vein; I was at a July 4th celebration a few years back, a band that my neighbor knew from her younger days was playing and she wanted to get closer to see her old idol. We moved right in front of the stage, I don’t know the name of the band but I do know the lead guitarist played exceptional well. While my neighbor swooned over her idol, I couldn’t help but notice the awesome veins in his arms as he skillfully played. You would have to have poor eye sight not to stick those veins in one go.
Nurses learn to hide their emotions. When a patient is suffering they don’t need a nurse falling apart sobbing over them. They need a nurse who is level headed and takes action. I use to think I lacked compassion until I learned that compassion is not a feeling (empathy). Compassion is seeing a need and taking action to help that need.
That is exactly what nurses do. They see a need related to their patient, whether it be a physical, mental, emotional or spiritual and they find a way to help them. They are the patient’s advocate, they speak up for the patient and help connect them with the appropriate team member.
The Good Samaritan (read Luke 10:30-35) was compassionate, he saw a need and did what was in his power to help. He gave first aid to the victim on the side of the road, then took him to the Inn where he paid the Innkeeper to take care of the man until his return. My guess is the Innkeeper was too busy looking after his customers to tend to a sick person, so I wonder who he would of hired to nurse the gentleman back to health? Someone with nursing skills?
If you know a nurse (other than me), please take a moment out of your busy schedule to send them a note expressing your appreciation of their service.
Do you have a LPN or RN as a family member or friend? Perhaps you have been a patient and a particular nurse stood out to you? Would love to hear from you in the comments.
We can all be compassionate, see a need and go into action.
Helena
Looking to Jesus. Living in His Radiance
Sweet post, Helena! I love your level emotions that are perfectly suited to being a great nurse! “Patient’s advocates”–the truth!
LikeLike
Thank you Cindy.
LikeLike
I absolutely love the part about you noticing the large veins on the band member. Such a great picture of how we all see the world through a particular lens. I also loved your clarification of empathy and compassion. I’ve never really thought of compassion as a verb (action) rather than a noun (feeling) but when I think about it you’re right. It’s the empathy that compels us into compassionate care. So many good thoughts in this one Helena. Thanks for sharing your insights and Happy. Nurses Week to you early.
Sent from my iPhone
>
LikeLike
Thank you Darla.
LikeLike
I worked with nurses at my last job, plus my sister-in-law is an RN, so I totally get the lunch conversation bit, which made me grin. But it’s the ability to take charge in frightening situations that I admire most about you wonderful folks. Good post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nurses cope with many life threatening situations. However it is more frightening for the patient and relatives than the nurse.
Remember to let your sister-in-law know how much you appreciate her service.
LikeLike