By 
Every day, nurses meet a lot of patients from all walks of life and ages. Despite the variety, all nurses have one goal in mind and that is to care for their patients.
Unfortunately, despite the changes nurses can make in their patients’ lives, a lot of them are still underappreciated. If you haven’t realized a nurse’s importance yet, then here are five reasons why you should be thanking them now.
1. Nurses care for you unconditionally.
Nurses can get yelled at or even insulted at times, but it will not stop them from going back to your room to ask how you are and if there’s anything you need. No matter how sick you are, your nurse will stick around with you until you get better.
Nursing is more than a job. It’s all about caring.
“It’s not just about work. Personally, I love seeing my patients get better every day and being a part of their recovery is something I really take pride of. I believe most nurses share the same sentiments as mine,” a 3-year ward nurse shared.
2. Nurses can handle emergencies.
During an emergency, you can expect a nurse to remain calm and collected. Aside from remaining calm, nurses are also highly skilled in giving the care you need. As a patient, these attributes can give you a sense of comfort and relief knowing that you’re in good hands.
“I was rushed to the ER a few weeks ago because of a freak accident. I knew I was losing a lot of blood and I was sure I was about to die. The nurse on duty, whom I am very thankful to, did his best to calm me down while the whole medical team treated my wounds. His presence and assurance made a lot of difference,” a patient shared.
3. Nurses celebrate with you.
Nurses are your primary caregivers. They are with you from the time of your admission, stay in the hospital and even on your discharge. Because of how involved they are with your care, it becomes inevitable for them to share your joy.
“I once cared for a patient in critical care for over two weeks. She didn’t have her family with her during her stay at the hospital as they were living in another country. When she finally woke up, it was the exact same time her family came. It was so heartwarming that I ended tearing up,” an ICU nurse said.
4. Nurses prioritize your needs.
They can skip their meals just to make sure you get your medicine on time. They can deny themselves bathroom breaks just to ensure that there’s someone to assist you in case you ring your call bell. Nurses are selfless to the point that they’ll consider your needs first before theirs!
5. Nurses know when something’s wrong.
You don’t need to always tell your nurse how you’re feeling. In most cases, they are already aware. They know when you’re in pain, having a fever or just having a bad day. During these instances, you can expect a nurse to almost always have a solution- whether it involves pain meds or a just a listening ear.
“During my stay, I had a misunderstanding with one of my children. While she was doing her rounds, my nurse readily sensed that I was not my usual self. She did not ask why or even a single question. She just stayed silently in my room until I found myself opening up. It was a really big help,” a 70-year old patient said.
How much do you appreciate your nurse? Do you have other reasons to thank nurses for?
Originally posted on Nurselabs.
