I want you to hug a nurse today and I’ll tell you why. I have quite a few wonderful nurses in my immediate circle and lots of new-found nurse friends I gained along the way. And most nurses in my life have been angels walking on earth.
Caregivers to the core, these unsung heroes keep the entire health care system running like a well-oiled machine. Never claiming glory, praise or thanks they consistently show up and always do their absolute best to keep everything on an even keel and everyone as comfortable as possible.
Because they are not doctors, people underestimate their power to heal and diagnose. They often make better choices and decisions than their physician counterparts because they are in the trenches with the day to day interactions with patients, medications, and therapies. The knowledge and experience they possess is invaluable.
I relied so heavily on nurses during all of my caregiving journeys. I would often have been up you know what creek with no paddle without them. Their accessibility alone saved me from fear and anxiety. I had many a kind and informative nurse talk me off the ledge and head me in the right direction to get the best care for my loved ones.
After hospital and rehab stay, visiting nurses, bending over backward, ensured that my family members were healing as quickly and as comfortably as possible. They saved me again and again when I was panicked that something was wrong, easing my worry with a professional assessment and calm reassurance. They became my lifeline to medical information. I never hesitated to call on them to explain or discuss what was happening with my parents or loved ones. They walked me through the fire with encouragement and soothing support.
We take these superheroes for granted sometimes. If you have nurses in your life as I’m sure most of you do, take a moment and really notice what they do and how they are doing it. Reflect on how often they are walking you through what’s going on and what to expect. Notice how they try to keep everyone calm and everything on an even keel. Even those nurses that seem to be too busy or who aren’t that easy to read, make you feel that if something went wrong or you really needed them they would be there in a flash, competently taking care of business if your loved ones are in crisis.
When you stop for a moment and appreciate all they do, you’ll see they deserve a hug or a smile or a box of cookies. Anything to tell them that they make a difference in the world every single day and your life is better for it. So go ahead! Give your nurses some love!
Nice tribute, Susanne! Nurses have played a pivotal role in the health and well-being of my family. For my late mother, it was the nurses in her Alzheimer’s unit, so caring, so knowledgeable. For me, it was the home-health nurses who stopped by to tend to my shoulder wound and offer advice on how to operate the wound vac machine. They are angels, indeed!
I’m so glad you agree! Man did they save my life!