During a busy shift, a patient was complaining why nurses don’t attend to her needs immediately. She kept peeving about the room’s temperature, the bad taste of hospital food, and the untimely cleaning of housekeeping personnel. She kept insisting about her pain medications and how her IV line annoys her. Yes, she complained about almost everything…about the lack of quality care, the poor service, and the unreasonable charges. That day, I believe all my patience was drained. It came to the point that I really wanted to cry from the disgust that I felt. But I really don’t have time for that! I have so many nurse’s notes to finish, and I don’t even know where to start. So I closed my eyes and composed myself again.
If only the patient knew how much we underwent that shift. How many IV insertions we need to do, how many urine bags we need to drain, how many vital signs we need to check, how many OR forms we need to accomplish, and how many other patients we need to attend. Not to mention we are understaffed!
Good thing is, not all patients are like that. And some days are better than the others. We too handled several caring and very thoughtful patients. Some patients are so appreciative enough that we don’t know how to repay them with their kindness.
Hence, I want to send this open-letter for all the patients that we’ve handled to let them know what we really wanted to express for a long time:
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Dear patients, If only you knew That we are keen to question a doctor’s order, if we believe that it poses danger We are willing to fight for you, in times when you can’t take it any longer Although we are strict to make you comply with your management Please remember: we just want you to get better
If only you knew We sacrifice our holidays, our time for our families We missed out several reunions, occasions, and parties But as long as we see your fast recovery, We are happy to discharge you to reunite with your own friends and family
If only you knew That we chose to care for you though our family member’s sick How we starve during the shift while preventing you from being hypoglycemic How we monitor the details of your output and intake Setting aside our needs for your own sake
If only you knew We are prepared to manually extract your stool when you’re constipated How sometimes we thirst during the shift just to keep you well-hydrated And though sometimes you humiliate us for the insufficiencies we’ve made Just remember, you are always loved by the nurse you once berated
If only you knew We are also hurt when your body’s aching We are disappointed when we can’t insert a line through your vein We are troubled when your pain scale is 10 out of 10 That’s why we secure an order of pain medication PRN
If only you knew How our feet and backs get hurt just to make your position in bed comfortable We are willing to take risks and be exposed with hazardous chemicals Although we are sleep deprived and vulnerable We will make sure your hospital stay is exceptional
If only you knew That if everything fails including thy body systems We’ll not fail to feed you by TPN, thru gravity drain, or per orem We will suction as needed to remove your phlegm We promise you that we will be right by your side, ‘til the end
If only you knew… if only you just knew We think of you round-the-clock We are not after of anything: not a hall of fame, not a plaque For your sweetest smile, your simple gestures, and your genuine thanks Are for us, your priceless pay back
And in case you forget everything that has been confessed Just promise us you won’t forget: That we care for you, to the moon and back! Always loving, Your nurses |
As nurses, we always encourage our patients to verbalize their feelings and their thoughts. I think this open-letter is one way for us to start expressing our true sentiments not only towards our profession but also to our beloved patients.
