The Fruits of my Labors

Some people seem to think that health care workers are the same as hospitality staff-- like your waiter or hotel manager, where "the customer is always right."

Granted, I do perform a lot of similar duties. I get you beverages. I change your sheets. I provide warm blankets, pillows, and I try to make you comfortable. But then, I go even a step further. I change the nasty bloody, poopy towels from under you. I help you to the bathroom. I give you important medications and inform you about them. I can tell you how your labor is progressing. I help to make sure that you and your baby stay healthy and safe.

Now, I certainly do believe in choices, and I think patients should chose their care providers and facilities according to what suits them best. I also believe in respect and appreciation, and sometimes patients take what we do for granted. It's the attitude that we are simply there to cater to them- especially in labor and delivery. What I do can be very difficult. It's scary knowing that my actions can totally change a patient's outcome. In fact, I pretty much hated nursing for the first six months and only tolerated it for the next six. But what got me into this mess was wanting to help people, to calm and comfort them in times of stress, a chance to make a difference to somebody. Sometimes what I do goes completely unnoticed. Sometimes people get angry no matter how hard I try to please them. And sometimes, you win the lottery.

In the past few weeks I have gotten two lovely handwritten notes of appreciation from patients that I have taken care of. One sent me a picture of her cute baby girl along with her letter. Another came all the way back to the hospital to give me cookies and a note. I don't know if they understand how much that means to me! Perhaps it is simply their grateful attitudes more than any kind of extraordinary care I might have given them that prompted them to do it, but it sure made my day nevertheless. There is nothing quite like knowing that something you did made a difference for someone else-- especially in my area where emotions are high, there are a lot of expectations, and things can change in an instant. It feels so good to know that there are those who not only appreciate what I did for them, but so much so that they made a special effort to tell me. As I approach my two year mark in nursing, it's nice to finally know and feel that what I do is important-- and to even enjoy it!

Thank you!