Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm”.
In August of 2011, I retired from a forty-four-year nursing career that took me from the bedside, to the classroom to the boardroom then back to the bedside. Throughout it all, I never lost sight of the reason I went into nursing in the first place—to make a positive difference in the lives of the patients I had the privilege of serving.
There have been surprises, challenges and rewards around every bend.
National Nurse’s Week runs from May 6-May 12. May 6 was the birthday of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale who made her mark in history by instituting basic hygiene, nutrition and tender loving care to the soldiers in the Crimean War. She and a team of nurses improved the unsanitary conditions at a British base hospital, reducing the death count by two-thirds. She became known as “The Lady with the Lamp” when she made her night rounds.
Being a nurse is an honor and a privilege. I pay tribute to Florence and to all nurses who work every day to make a positive difference to their patients.
In my upcoming memoir, Ever Faithful To His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse, I explore the key role my nursing career played in my life.
Nursing has been my best friend through life’s trials; steady and true. It enabled me to walk away from two abusive marriages and create an independent life for myself and my children. It provided me with a sense of accomplishment and purpose. It taught me about life and kept me in touch with my many blessings of family and health.
Here is a memoir excerpt:
“Where is my baby?” Her mournful sobs echoed throughout the emergency room as we attempted to assess her injuries and stabilize her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she continued to search my face for an answer I didn’t have.
As I took her vital signs and attempted to remove her clothes to assess her injuries, a wave of helplessness and grief swept over my body. I caught a glimpse of a paramedic rushing, carrying the tiny, lifeless body in his arms, shaking his head.
The attending physician pulled me aside. “Whatever you do, don’t tell her the baby has died,” he commanded.
“She needs to know,” I said. “In fact, she already knows.”
“Nope,” he said. “Now is not the time to tell her.”
I stood by the stretcher, absorbing her grief as her pleading look drew me in. When she repeated her question, “Where is my baby?” I rubbed her arm. I thought of my own baby girl who was eleven months old at the time.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”
I stared into her eyes and nodded slightly, continuing to rub her arm.
“Oh my God, my baby is dead. No!” she screamed in loud lamentations that permeated the surrounding chaos.
We, the nursing staff, were too stunned to cry until we left for our own homes. The next day, we shared our collective grief at that unthinkable loss. I was not the only one who could not sleep that night.”
***
Alexandra Scheinfeld summarizes it best in this Thought Catalog post: “5 Things Nurses Want You to Know But Can’t Tell You:
“We cry for you at home.
We are happy to be your shoulder to cry on,but not your punching bag.
Nobody wants to get the IV right on the first try more than us.
We sacrifice for you.
We love you.”
***
My nursing license is up for renewal in June of this year. Recently, I went on the website to change my status. As I hovered over the area to check “inactive,”I felt the full impact of what that meant. I no longer would actively take care of patients. With that, I put my head in my hands and cried for what this represented– a life’s mission was over. Then I shut down my computer and decided to revisit it on another day when I would feel strong enough to check “inactive.”
And then I realized —I will never stop being a nurse at heart. Writing is a new twist in my nursing career. I can still be active in my mission to make a positive difference through my writing.
I hope you’ll thank a nurse this week!
How has a nurse made a positive difference in your life?
I’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~
Next Week:
Monday, 5/12/14: “Introducing Ever Faithful to His Lead: The Pubslush Campaign for My Memoir Launches”
Wednesday: 5/14/14: ” Google+ Hangout Interview with Memoir Author Cindi McVey: To Live in Paradise:Dreams Found and Lost in Africa”