Brilliantly beautiful. The apple fell next to the tree I love your sentence and verse spacing of your prose. I'm a huge fan. You're inspirational.
My mom was an RN my dad was her patient. Married 56 years. Gone now but live in my heart.
A profession I admire.
I have had many medical challenges and a lot of of them were easier for me to get through all due to the nurses I had and some of them were the worst experiences of my life all due to the nurses I had. I have a feeling you’re an incredible nurse. One of the ones that makes things a little bit easier...
Currently in nursing school. I'm currently a CNA and full time father so writing can be hard to find time for but I love being able to have my voice heard by many
Thank you for this beautiful writing. It feels so good to read deep embodied intimate truth in a sea of disconnection and untethered reckons. And the Covid stuff hits hard here in Aotearoa where we avoided all the deaths, due to exceptional leadership, but that leadership is now being vilified by those who can’t see past their own individual experience towards a sense of the collective of which they too are a part. Thank you.
I think a lot of people have their doubts on the new generation of nurses but I have yet to see a single nurse around my age that didn't give their patients everything they had
Firstly, you can write. And you write well. I was bawling and kept wiping my eyes so I wouldn’t miss a word.
I was a nurse 44+ years. I was retired when Covid hit. I knew how bad it was for all the hospital staff.
Nurses have the most contact of anyone with the patients. And that is why they love nurses the most! Hah!
The fact that you can cry and be moved is exactly why you should be a nurse. As it goes along you will learn to focus on what you can offer the dying person and as important their loved ones. Presence is what it is all about.
Nursing is special as are you and all nurses.
The best advice I ever got from a more experienced nurse was “ leave it in the parking lot “
All the best as you head into the greatest challenge and the greatest reward.
As you can see I could go on and on .
I would like to leave you with something funny. One time a patient had slipped down in his high backed chair and was almost spilling out of it. I ran in and put my arms into the pit of his on each side and tried to sit him up. Thus older gentleman proceeded to slap my ass the whole time. Afterwards the guy’ s roommate said, I would have helped but I couldn’t stop laughing and was useless. I replied, “ I know . “
I loved reading your comment and It really is baffling just how underappreciated we are in the Healthcare field! I think our brains are wired differently than the average person.
I have to think that nurse's are admired and appreciated, albeit perhaps quietly. I have never (touch wood) been in hospital for treatment. But, I have been present bedside for more loved ones and friends than I can count.
I have a profound respect for nurses. I trust the nursing staff much more than the doctors overseeing the patients. Nurses are present, watchful, and fierce advocates for their patients.
I personally have witnessed a nurse refusing to administer another medication until the doctor put down the phone and showed up for their patient. That patient was my Mum, allergic to the medications doc prescribed for a wrongful diagnosis. That nurse saved my Mum's life.
I'm forever grateful, and forever aware of the presence and passion that nurses bring to the many challenges they face daily. I'm so happy you're writing, Che. People will listen. And learn.
I watched something happen very similar to this. A veteran traveling nurse had a very sick patient in their care and the Dr prescribed something she knew would only worsen this patients condition. After writing several messages to the Dr telling him she would not be following his order, she was written up and the patient was assigned to a younger nurse who the Doc thought would follow his orders. The older nurse went into the patients room and told the family to check them out AMA because if they were given that medicine it would kill them. The unit manager got involved and brought in the hospitalist who reviewed the patients chart and found that the nurse was entirely correct and saved that person's life.
Incredible writing, Che Ivan. Absolutely gutted me (much like your Dad).
If this doesn't light a fire under me to find you the file I mentioned in your other post's comments, I don't know what will. That line - "Compassion isn't free, it charges interest and you pay in tears." This is true for the "exceptionals" in your field of which you are, and will continue to be, a part.
And you've elicited tears more than once from me in the telling of your story. Thank you for sharing such rich and raw emotion. Keep processing. Keep your heart open. Keep writing., please.
Compassion isn’t free. It charges interest and you pay in tears. I will remember that line for a long time. Your son’s words affirm the pain I’m feeling with the loss of my mother. It reminds me that I need to feel more catharsis to properly grieve her- that I haven’t let go of my feelings enough yet to feel more whole. Thank you for sharing Tom.
Beautifully written. It’s easy to walk as your shadow while you take us on your personal journey. Through your writing we see, as though firsthand, what you do daily.
Thank you. You have a gift. Please don’t make this a one off.
Thanks Cat, I have been doing my best to keep up with writing along with being a full time student, CNA, and most importantly father. All the comments and support I've been getting on here and buymeacoffee have been overwhelming!
Brilliantly beautiful. The apple fell next to the tree I love your sentence and verse spacing of your prose. I'm a huge fan. You're inspirational.
My mom was an RN my dad was her patient. Married 56 years. Gone now but live in my heart.
A profession I admire.
I have had many medical challenges and a lot of of them were easier for me to get through all due to the nurses I had and some of them were the worst experiences of my life all due to the nurses I had. I have a feeling you’re an incredible nurse. One of the ones that makes things a little bit easier...
Bless you. Keep writing.
Currently in nursing school. I'm currently a CNA and full time father so writing can be hard to find time for but I love being able to have my voice heard by many
Thank you for this beautiful writing. It feels so good to read deep embodied intimate truth in a sea of disconnection and untethered reckons. And the Covid stuff hits hard here in Aotearoa where we avoided all the deaths, due to exceptional leadership, but that leadership is now being vilified by those who can’t see past their own individual experience towards a sense of the collective of which they too are a part. Thank you.
You are very welcome !
Yes. Feel the things, all the things. This will enable not mere survival but the ability to thrive as an RN. Don’t let the system eat you.
As a retired RN, this writing makes me smile. I’m grateful that one of the new generation of nurses understands this very important lesson.
I too know what is in the air after a ventilator is turned off. This never became normalized for me when I practiced.
I think a lot of people have their doubts on the new generation of nurses but I have yet to see a single nurse around my age that didn't give their patients everything they had
Oh my!
Firstly, you can write. And you write well. I was bawling and kept wiping my eyes so I wouldn’t miss a word.
I was a nurse 44+ years. I was retired when Covid hit. I knew how bad it was for all the hospital staff.
Nurses have the most contact of anyone with the patients. And that is why they love nurses the most! Hah!
The fact that you can cry and be moved is exactly why you should be a nurse. As it goes along you will learn to focus on what you can offer the dying person and as important their loved ones. Presence is what it is all about.
Nursing is special as are you and all nurses.
The best advice I ever got from a more experienced nurse was “ leave it in the parking lot “
All the best as you head into the greatest challenge and the greatest reward.
As you can see I could go on and on .
I would like to leave you with something funny. One time a patient had slipped down in his high backed chair and was almost spilling out of it. I ran in and put my arms into the pit of his on each side and tried to sit him up. Thus older gentleman proceeded to slap my ass the whole time. Afterwards the guy’ s roommate said, I would have helped but I couldn’t stop laughing and was useless. I replied, “ I know . “
I loved reading your comment and It really is baffling just how underappreciated we are in the Healthcare field! I think our brains are wired differently than the average person.
I have to think that nurse's are admired and appreciated, albeit perhaps quietly. I have never (touch wood) been in hospital for treatment. But, I have been present bedside for more loved ones and friends than I can count.
I have a profound respect for nurses. I trust the nursing staff much more than the doctors overseeing the patients. Nurses are present, watchful, and fierce advocates for their patients.
I personally have witnessed a nurse refusing to administer another medication until the doctor put down the phone and showed up for their patient. That patient was my Mum, allergic to the medications doc prescribed for a wrongful diagnosis. That nurse saved my Mum's life.
I'm forever grateful, and forever aware of the presence and passion that nurses bring to the many challenges they face daily. I'm so happy you're writing, Che. People will listen. And learn.
I watched something happen very similar to this. A veteran traveling nurse had a very sick patient in their care and the Dr prescribed something she knew would only worsen this patients condition. After writing several messages to the Dr telling him she would not be following his order, she was written up and the patient was assigned to a younger nurse who the Doc thought would follow his orders. The older nurse went into the patients room and told the family to check them out AMA because if they were given that medicine it would kill them. The unit manager got involved and brought in the hospitalist who reviewed the patients chart and found that the nurse was entirely correct and saved that person's life.
I think there are docs out there that can be distracted and dismissive. Never be afraid to question, to speak up.
If I don't find that file soon, I'll create a new one :)
Thanks! Maybe this writer’s forum is making
Me a better writer…
Presence is everything.
Exactly right.
Yes wired better! Hah
Incredible writing, Che Ivan. Absolutely gutted me (much like your Dad).
If this doesn't light a fire under me to find you the file I mentioned in your other post's comments, I don't know what will. That line - "Compassion isn't free, it charges interest and you pay in tears." This is true for the "exceptionals" in your field of which you are, and will continue to be, a part.
And you've elicited tears more than once from me in the telling of your story. Thank you for sharing such rich and raw emotion. Keep processing. Keep your heart open. Keep writing., please.
Compassion isn’t free. It charges interest and you pay in tears. I will remember that line for a long time. Your son’s words affirm the pain I’m feeling with the loss of my mother. It reminds me that I need to feel more catharsis to properly grieve her- that I haven’t let go of my feelings enough yet to feel more whole. Thank you for sharing Tom.
Beautifully written. It’s easy to walk as your shadow while you take us on your personal journey. Through your writing we see, as though firsthand, what you do daily.
Thank you. You have a gift. Please don’t make this a one off.
Thanks Cat, I have been doing my best to keep up with writing along with being a full time student, CNA, and most importantly father. All the comments and support I've been getting on here and buymeacoffee have been overwhelming!