National Nurses Week has me recalling both satisfying and difficult highlights of a 40-year nursing career. Assignments carefully thought out in the hospital, nursing home and home health setting could all be interrupted with the following.
“Mrs. Smith is asking for something more for pain.” “You’ll be receiving an admission in 30 minutes.” “My father just had an accident and needs cleaning up.” “The pharmacy needs to talk to you about an order clarification.” “Dr. Stevens needs to talk to you about his patient’ s orders.” “Your hospice patient is having trouble breathing and the family is having a hard time.”
All of these challenges and others were an opportunity to communicate love and care, as well as patience. When the challenges didn’t neatly meet the hours in a day, I had to stay however long it took to complete the paperwork on each patient.
Thorough nursing documentation included assessment of the patient, care/medication given and the result of the care given. Nurse’s notes were necessary to assure insurance payment for care given and to help prevent litigation.
Nursing is physically, emotionally and spiritually a demanding job. Looking back, I’m grateful for all the years of service to my patients, their loved ones and the medical community.
The satisfaction, life experience and wisdom I gained through patient encounters, far out-weighed the difficulties and distresses. Each relationship was an opportunity to peer into the soul of another precious individual.
Each task presented the dehumanizing possibility of the patient becoming just that, a task to be accomplished. There were those days and patients where I took my eyes off God and reacted in my humanness instead of God’s strength and wisdom.
I’m grateful God never looks at us as a task. He delights in the relationship as we turn to him for direction, nurture and healing. Then he gives us work to do that provides job satisfaction.
So, I applaud, thank and pray for the many nurses, nursing assistants and caregivers who continue to labor with life-giving love and excellence in the practice of nursing.
Follow God’s example in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins. And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to him. (NLT: Ephesians 5: 1 – 3)