My reward!

People always ask if I like being a nurse and I always say yes. Well that isn't completely true. I don't like being a nurse I love it!!!

I love being able to provide the care needed to help someone heal and get back home. I have seen patients who came in and thought to myself that poor family is going to lose their loved one only to see them do remarkably well and go home healthy!

I have also experienced the sadness and pain of watching someone die. I can recall one patient whose family and himself grew on me. He had heart surgery and told me he was going to die. Me being the type of nurse I am told him not on my watch you aren't! To make a long story short, he never got well. I always greeted him saying, "your favorite nurse is back" and he always gave me a smile. I got a smile on this day but he didn't look good. He was going to go to hospice the next day. His son-in-law sent his wife downstairs for a break and shortly after he came to the desk and said he thought he was about to die. I stayed with the patient and waited for them to return. His wife came in and told him it was time to go home and she would be ok and hugged him, then planted a kiss on his lips. He smiled and took his last breath! She immediately gave me a hug and cried. She thanked me for taking great care of her husband and told me he really liked me. She stated that I was the only nurse he ever told I was part of his family. It took all I had to keep from crying in her presence. Her family's gratitude and being able to touch a part of their lives was my reward. It is days like this that inspire me to give 100% of myself towards my patient care. There is no better reward I can ask for!

All comments are greatly appreciated. I'd love to hear your stories.