Good stories about hospital staff

[anonymous]

Hello to All,

I have a young son w/cf and I am a nursing student. My goal is to work at a CF clinic or work on the floor with CF patients. Could you tell me what makes a good nurse to you...I guess I mean what could I do to make your stay better /more comfortable. Could you share your stories where a hospital staffer made a difference in your stay/care.

Thanks

 

[shamrock]

Somebody who is friendly and non judgemental. Like if a teenager cries don't say they're not acting their age. In my hospital I have brilliant cf nurses, they are so good to me. On th wards though some can be a bit hostile/cold/not chatty/smiley. I think thats important.<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[EmilysMom]

I know the nurses that always impressed me were the ones that talked to Emily even though I was in the room. She always hates it when they come into the room and talk to me instead of her. She's sitting right there! Talk to her! She's 21....I think she can answer her own questions. Even when she was younger, she could tell you how she was feeling. Don't talk over her or around her as if she wasn't here. Take time to listen to thier answers. Don't assume you know what the answer is going to be. and Smile!

 

[anonymous]

I always like the ones who LISTEN to what I say when it comes to my care and follow through. Also the ones who take a special interest in me as a person.
When I was in for 31 days this summer, I had a few AWSOME nurses!! My mom smuggled in my new puppy to visit me every couple of days, and the head nurse was like, "The puppy's part of your family, so if anyone gives you grief you send 'em my way" No one ever cared about the puppy, they lined up outside my room to see him, eventhough he wasn't "allowed" in the hospital.
Debbie
23 w/ CF

 

[Jo20784]

My nurses in my hospital try not to wake me up at night when they do my iv's which is great as they no how important sleep is . the makings for a great nurse is someone who wont say stop cryin or stop being a baby about needles and some one who will listen to everything u say and wot your parents say .

 

[anonymous]

I am not a CFer but I am a nurse and have a husband with CF. I feel like we (you and me in this situation) have a great advantage because we know first hand what it is like to have a sick loved one and have experiences with hospitals, doctors and nurses. We have the opportunity to reflect back on what we remember as being good and wonderful from a nurse, and also what made us wonder if this person cared, where the hell they went to school and if they knew what CYSTIC FIBROSIS even meant.
That right there is a great advantage and tool for you, I am a bit bias but I think we make some better nurses than not. Good luck with your schooling!

Julie (wife to Mark 24 w/CF)

 

[NoDayButToday]

Being prompt about overnight IVs and knowing when it will beep is great-- if you come in right before it beeps it's great. I had a nurse once who had a watch with multiple alarm-type things and she'd set them for each kids meds so no beeping happened unless there was an emergency- it was great! Also, its great when nurses are focused on your comfort beyond your health. One day my last hospitalization, my TV/Internet was broken all day, and at the end of the day (right before my favorite show was supposed to come on) my nurse came in and said "I have a surprise" and suddenly the TV was working. It had been a weekend and she called this guy at home to reprogram the TV from there! It was so nice.

 

[anonymous]

A nurse that is willing to try to meet the emotional needs along with the physical needs. Don't rush in and out of the room just because it is uncomfortable in the gown and masks.
We have a great nurse. My favorite story. Cory was in the hospital in December. This nurse comes in one day with 2 bags of stuff. Turns out it was Christmas decorations. She spent an hour hanging garland, christmas wreth, even a miniture christmas tree(no lights as it was against hospital policy),and brought a christmas CD. She wanted to do it this because Cory was really down about being in and it was starting to get close enough to chrismas that he was afraid he wouldn't get out before christmas. She felt he needed a little christmas spirit to cheer him up. That actually is only one example of the many things that she does.
On the mom side. If you make an error, accept the blame. Don't tell me that pump isn't working when you are the one that hooked up the wrong line and infused the med to floor. Don't tell me that pharmacy didn't send up the right meds when you just didn't look at the order correctly. We are all humans and we all make mistakes(even nurses).

 

[jessicarose]

I love all my nurses in hospital. Mostly because they are more like friends than nurses. i know its considered "unprofessioinal" but i find it helps me to cope. instead of feeling like im locked up, it's more like im on a holiday.
Jess

 

[rideronthewhitehorse]

Like someone already said, don't tell them not to cry. I mean, adults cry. Why? Because of the stress, tension, pain, and probably lack of sleep. When you give a shot, don't look all serious and stuck up, but also don't act like it's fun to give a shot.
In Christ,

 

[jaime]

I agree with what everyone else has posted about going beyond just hanging meds and taking vitals. Try to remember that we are interesting and unique people beyond our CF and get to know us. For me, that is a huge point. Whenever I have a new nurse I really appreciate it when she takes a minute to get to know me a bit. We know the nurses are busy but even five minutes counts.

 

[Emily65Roses]

I imagine I'm just repeating now, but I wanted to make a quick comment. Don't ever tell us not to try. Often I cry just because I get so stressed out, or feel like I've got NO control, or because I'm lonely. If the nurses didn't work there, and were staying in the hospital, they'd know the feeling. It can be a huge downer. And the needles thing... don't tell us it doesn't hurt... it's OUR arm, not yours. The crying thing goes along with this one too. Don't come in at ridiculous hours if you can avoid it. Try not to let the IV beep too long. I hate that. Try to make sure meds and stuff are as on time as possible (I know nurses get busy, just try your best). And don't treat us like a number, or a disease only. We're people. You should really make sure you care about people before you get into a profession like nursing. Try to care for US (Emily, Mary, Jaime, Jarod, Jess, Coll, Debbie, etc etc), not CF patients numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc etc. We're individuals and we're people. Remember that. <img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">