I'm always surprised when i get a note or a thanks when working in outpatient surgery. I usually spend no more than a couple of hours with a patient. For the most part it's not a life-changing event they've been through. NOT to downplay their surgery which is certainly a big deal. But when comparing delivering a baby to having a nasal surgery, i think the baby wins.
So the other day i had a patient who had just that. Nasal surgery. I got him post-procedure and took report from another nurse who was going to lunch. She described him as a "rude Middle Eastern" (can you tell i live in whitebread country?) to which i quipped, "Ah! My specialty!" He was pretty grumpy and whiney initially (nasal surgery can't be comfortable) but we managed to hit it off. He commented on what good nurses Gloria (his pre-op nurse) and I were and ho
w everyone else had not been so (which is surprising to me as i think we have a really friendly crew, but evidently someone rubbed him the wrong way). I finally managed to get his pain under control and his blood pressure and oxygen saturation to appropriate levels. He looked a lot better and seemed just about ready to go when my shift ended and another nurse took over to send him home.Yesterday i showed up to work and this incredible gift basket was sitting on the counter at the nurses' station for me (and one for Gloria). I've never seen such a ridiculously nice gift basket before. Beautiful orchid and all sorts of yummy treats inside. I couldn't believe it. And all the note said was, "Thank you for being a nice nurse." All for just doing my job. Now i feel like i should call and thank HIM for thanking ME.
That's so nice!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should start working just to feel some appreciation!
apparently kristen and i are on the same wavelength-- i was going to say the exact same thing.
ReplyDeletei love when people think to point out the NICE things, and not just the things that make them mad. good fer ya!
That is beautiful! I know what you mean when someone thanks you in such a nice way that you feel like you need to thank them!
ReplyDeleteI laughed at your comment about white bread country! Do nurses really write things like "rude middle eastern" in charts?? Hmmm, now I'm curious what some of my charts say!
I have to say I have a special place in my heart for a few of the nurses who helped me while in L&D.
That IS nice. It really does make a difference to have a nice nurse though. I had a horrible labor and delivery nurse when I had Ethan, and I just felt like saying, "WHAT do you have to be grumpy about?? Are YOU in labor???" Sheesh! But I am not good about thanking the nice ones. I will for sure from now on.
ReplyDeleteThe Biscotti was awesome.
ReplyDeleteWhat is an appropriate frequency for a husband to do something like flowers to show appreciation to your wife?
We can all say that other things show that appreciation but sometimes you can't beat a tangible $ recognition.
Is there something better than flowers?