Nursing Beyond Mere Science

5/4/07 | 60Gunner

[60Gunner]

60Gunner, you helped her find a window when every door had been shut.

I really did not do much of anything. I gave her warm blankets, I assessed her health, I identified what she needed and I got the people involved who needed to be involved.

I think that God did infinitely more for me than I did for her.

[sarasmom]

God works like that, sometimes.
But you did do something vital for this woman.
Something many people would never even consider doing.
You helped another human being, even when you didn’t have to do so.
If not for you, who else would have helped her?
People like you are precious, and increasingly rare.
God bless you.

[Kimmers]

God was talking to you and were listening that day Gunner....you blessed this womans life.....The following is what a friend of mine wrote. She also works in an ER

Since early childhood, I was drawn inexorably toward the nursing profession. When I turned fourteen, I became a “Polka-Dot.” That was a hospital volunteer position for girls who were too young to be candy stripers. One had to be sixteen to wear the pink and white stripes, which I ultimately never wore due to my ever-increasing need for paid employment. Twice a week, I would don my blue dotted, white pinafore, and deliver dinner trays and water to patients’ bedsides. I was not officially allowed to provide direct patient care, but the nurses on the units acquiesced to my enthusiastic pleas to do more they let me help change beds, and rub peoples’ backs. It’s a shame we seldom do that anymore. It was in that direct patient contact that my desire to become a nurse took form.

Now I find myself some forty-plus years later working in an urban, Level I trauma center. This is not my first experience with this type of environment, though at my age, it will probably be my last. I trained in a city hospital in Chicago, and worked at a large university trauma center. I have worked all over the country and in many types of nursing capacities, some of which were cleaner and easier to take on a daily basis. But I found myself, once again drawn toward the not-so-clean, gritty world that comprises the urban hospital.

During the early years I thrived on the adrenalin rush that came with working in busy emergency departments. I did not understand then that the Lord had directed me toward this profession for more than my personal thrill ride. Now I believe He has been orchestrating my life to bring me to a place and time where I can minister to my patients’ souls as well as their bodies. He, however, did not make it easy. Ministry is never easy.

“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” Mt. 25:40 (NIV)

The environment of the urban trauma center does not engender love and compassion. Our patients are in pain, and are usually forced to wait for hours before they receive care. Our staff is insufficient to keep up with the numbers of people who sometimes seem to pour through our doors in overwhelming quantities, making it difficult to stave off exhaustion and keep tempers in check. Our patients are often foul smelling, foul speaking, drunk, drugged, belligerent, and sometimes threatening. They cry poor while spending every last penny on alcohol, coke, crack, meth, weed, or cigarettes. One of the more common chief complaints is “ETOH,” meaning the patient is drunk. Many of our patients are non-compliant, requiring us to repeatedly care for their same unresolved medical issues. We call those the “frequent fliers.” We are spit at, cursed at, urinated on, vomited on, and much worse. We hear “f_ _ _-you” more often than “thank you.” Then there’s the staff. We are sometimes unkind to each other and to our patients. We gossip. Oh, do we gossip. We are insincere and catty. We turn our backs when we should help. We criticize and degrade each other when we should support and teach each other. Yet the Lord loves every one of us, patients as well as staff, completely, equally, and without reservation.

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Rom 3:23 (NIV)

It is difficult to remember that I share a common sin life with people who do not wash every day or work every day, yet differ only in how we sin not that we sin. When we find ourselves in the presence of the Lord, we are reminded that none of us is worthy of His love.

Each day before I step into this world while I still have my wits about me, I ask the Lord to help me glorify Him, to give me the strength to love my patients and my co-workers, and each day I forget to listen to His voice. My behavior does anything but glorify Him. There are moments, though, when I sense Him nudging me to share His loving message through my actions, my words, or a simple touch. Ah! So that’s why I am here.

[IslandJeff]

Great, as always. The subdued tone of what was, in the impersonal, an abstract, routine story will sit well among your humorous, dramatic stories. Sort of a bridge between verses, if you will, and equally important in the context of relaying anecdotes of The Human Condition.

And, please, as a Christian, do not mistake “meekness” for “weakness”. “Jaded” is, essentially, the modern etymology of the Greco concept of “meek”, that is, strength and knowledge under full control. What you do and exhibit is Him walking among us.

[gaemes]

My wife is a Nurse and many times over the years my shoulder has gotten wet because hers did not make it. She’s back in geriatrics now, but when a resident passes on it’s still...

Nuf Said

GBY (God Bless You)

[Spyder]

Aww, that’s a neat one. I’ve encouraged kids who think SW is the ultimately rewarding field to consider medical social work. I know we valued them in the rehab and hospital settings tremendously. You’re right about their abilities to scare up resources from nowhere, and I think their job is probably a lot more rewarding than that of the typical “social worker,” the ones that starry-eyed idealists picture when they first decide to major in SW. The ones who think they are going to change the system and change society.

[brwnsuga]

This is awesome. I am finally starting clinicals in August and I am looking forward to being able to touch some lives like this. Thanks for all you do.

[sionnsar]

ping

[birddog]

Please add me to you ping list. Awesome story as usual, thanks!

[eleni121]

YOU are my hero!

Would you allow me to share this wonderfully written essay with my Nursing Department colleagues where I teach?

[RabidBartender]

Another beautiful, well-conveyed story - thank you very much for sharing it with us!

:)

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

Please add me to your ping list. People like you will be the salvation of our medical system.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

I really did not do much of anything. I gave her warm blankets,

You severely underestimate your contribution.

Your compassion gave this woman hope and options she would not have otherwise had. You and your fellows saved two lives that would have likely been lost without your assistance.

Bravo!

[ASOC]

Lets see:

Mother Teresa of Calcutta still reaching out — check

Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me — check

helping hand of the Lord screwed onto the end of (my, your and our) arm — check

good story with happy ending — check and check

Whatever we do, whenever we do it matters, sometimes more than others.

So, once more my man - when does the book come out?

[Chickensoup]

When is the book coming out?

[Mad Dawg]

Wow!

[Tribune7]

I hope you are writing a book. Your stories are either uplifting or enlightining and they are always well written.

[alfa6]

Much obliged for all the pings my FRiend. Kinda hard to see a blurry keyboard :-)

Best Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[grey_whiskers]

God bless you for your compassion, 60!

Prayers up for the woman and her soon-to-be kiddo, too.

Cheers!

[60Gunner]

Certainly you may share it!