A Message to the Nurse's Future Self

So nurse, it's twenty years in the future, and you have two more decades of nursing under your belt. You've cared for thousands of patients, held thousands of hands, and looked into thousands of pairs of eyes. What do you remember, and what do your patients recall? What stands out for you? How does your career compare to your expectations, dreams and aspirations? Patients RememberWhat do your patients remember about you? First, they don't remember your name, and that's almost a certainty. Maybe a special one or two will remember, but most of them will instead recall how you cared for them and touched their lives at a vulnerable time.  Next, they remember your kindness, the way you looked at them, fluffed their pillow, started an IV with extra care, or made them more at ease. They may not recall exact moments, but they might say, "You know, when I was in the hospital in 2014, there was this nurse who was so kind to me. I can't remember who he was, but he really made my hospitalization so much gentler. I wish I could remember his name so I could send him a note. God bless that man."I've actually heard people say things like this. Have you? Do you think they say things like this about you? I sure hope the do.Nurses RememberSo, future nurse, what do the last twenty years of nursing look like to you? How do you feel about your career? Did you burn out or did you burn bright? Did you care well or did you end up no longer caring at all?What do you remember, nurse...

Source: Digital Doorway - March 3, 2014 Category: Nurses Tags: nurse nurses nursing Source Type: blogs