To the Nurses:
I recently had a stay in a hospital. It wasn't planned; I was supposed to be able to leave after surgery, but due to a complication, I had to spend two extra days in the hospital. And the people who made this stay bearable were my nurses and nursing assistants. And this is me saying thank you.
You were there every step of the way, from when I was still half-asleep from the anesthesia to when I got to leave, and through every step you were looking out for me and making sure that I was okay. I know that that is your job, but you never made it feel like that. In the middle of the night when you had to wake me up to take vital signs, you made me laugh. When I had a really rough night, you came by to make sure that I was comfortable, even though I was sick and tired and couldn't sleep.
You all also kept it real. When I asked questions about what was going on, you answered me, even when I was half gone because of the pain killers. You let me be in charge of my medication. After a bad spot of feeling nauseous, you told me that next time I could let the next nurse know what I should be taking to help combat that. You gave me the words to feel like I was slightly in charge of a situation that was completely out of my control.
You laughed at my poor attempts at self-deprecating humor during the night shift. You talked me through all of the possibilities for what might happen in the future. You made me feel not alone in a place where it is very possible to feel alone and small and scared. With you, I felt none of those things.
Being a nurse is something that I knew I could never do. I don't have the stomach for blood or any other bodily fluids. But seeing how much passion every person I was around had made me feel good. I knew that I was in good hands. Because this job is hard. It's really long hours. How you were so awake at 4 a.m. vitals was incredible. On a good night I can't be that awake, and yet there were people doing their job at 3 in the morning. That's amazing to me. That, and how much they care about each patient.
I had one nurse, Dawn, who was one of the first nurses helping me when I came out of surgery. She was there every day that I was in the hospital, and when I got discharged, she came up to say goodbye. And to me, that just shows what kind of person becomes a nurse. They care so much. Sure, it's their job, but not everyone can do that. They are on the front lines doing the groundwork to help get every patient well. And that is a job that is worth recognition and acclaim.
So thank you to all the nurses and nursing assistants and future nurses out there. You do amazing work and I am forever grateful to you.
Best,
Jennelle
