My career as a nurse hasn't been a long one yet, maybe all of five years. However, my experience in the healthcare field has been lifelong. I've worked as an aide in assisted living and in group homes, as a medical assistant in family practice, and spent time working with home health care and hospice.
Once I became a registered nurse, I came to the hospital. I worked on a med surg floor and finally ended up feeling at home in ICU. Each position has been a stepping stone for me and I've learned so much along the way.
Nursing in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit is so much more than I imagined. It's challenging and emotional. We work as a team and count on each other all the time. We have to.
Of course, our daily routine is filled with passing meds, giving baths, taking patients to tests, scans or procedures. And we talk. A lot. We talk to our patients, to their families, to each doctor. We do our best to make sure everyone is on the same page. Then we chart.
Because if we don't document it, it didn't happen. We do all of this while keeping our eyes on each other and watching patients and monitors. Always on watch, just in case.
Most of all, we care. I've been blessed and when I came to this unit, I was mentored by a nurse I've come to know and love like family. She didn't teach me how to be a nurse, in fact, she told me I already knew that part. And yes, she taught me plenty of new nursing skills. But, what I really learned is the heart it takes to do this. She is the type of nurse that makes me proud to be a nurse and part of this team.
We see a lot here. We go through a lot with our patients and families.
We hold hands, share hugs, say prayers. We cry together, laugh together. Jeanette doesn't just care for her patients, she cares for their families and for each of us. She is always the one behind the scene pulling the strings and making things happen.
Just the other day I was reminded of this. I watched Jeanette. She passed meds, helped with baths, chased after orders, and charted of course. In the midst of all of this, she took notice of a patient's young wife who was dropped off at the hospital, far from home, with no resources. Jeanette took this on and made sure this young lady was cared for. She found a way to let her shower and freshen up, and even dug up the resources for a fresh change of clothes.
This one thing may seem small, but it's one of many examples I have of Jeanette going above and beyond. This one act of kindness made a difference to this young lady. Her smile made us smile.
Jeanette is always there, always the first to offer help and always looking out for everyone. Jeanette is the perfect example of the heart it takes to be a great nurse. I know many of her patients and families feel blessed to have her, just as I do.
Thank you, Jeanette, for all you do, from all of us.