Never sure if anybody is reading, or notices if my blogs are missing. I was gone for several months as a result of some personal—health and family—stuff. Hence, picking back up at the letter “N” and a salute to nurses. We have many friends and family members in this profession, but you really respect and appreciate them when they touch your lives in a very close and personal way.
Early this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, Stage 0 (didn’t know there was such a thing). Throughout the process of testing, diagnosis, surgery, treatment and follow-up, wonderfully caring and compassionate nurses have been the constant that saw me through. Yes, the docs were knowledgeable and terrific. Answered all my questions, often before I knew what they were. But the nurses were there at every stage and I couldn’t have gotten through it as smoothly without them.
I was fortunate to skip chemo because of the early diagnosis, but learned that radiation is no picnic! The nurses in the treatment center checked in with me periodically. They made sure I knew all the latest tricks for skin care to minimize burning and to treat it when it did crop up. They managed my expectations and cheered me on. They have always been there with smiles and words of encouragement to accompany their professional advice. I know they had to deal with patients in far worse health then I was, because I saw those patients on a daily basis myself. Not sure I could stay cheerful every day under those circumstances.
In the middle of my daily radiation treatment, my 90 year old mother decided it was time to move out of her home and look for an assisted living facility. Good thing I had her and my father wait-listed all over town! A few phone calls later, and they were set up with a place only 10 minutes from my home. They are settled in and have never regretted it—nor have I. They have nurses to assist with their meds and to check their vitals and well-being daily. They both seem to be great friends with the staff that cares for them, and that gives me great peace of mind as well. They both seem to be doing better than they were doing when they were living in their own home, able to entertain friends and family as guests in their new apartment, and I attribute that in large part to the great care they receive from their nursing staff.
IN CLOSING
Those are my personal nurse stories for the early part of this year. But on a broader scale, we need to think of nursing as a career field. Indiana’s list of “hot jobs” lists nursing at the top of careers that need to be filled now and in the coming years. In a very real sense, this is a STEM field and is not an easy field of study. It takes long hours, practical experience with patients, and we want our best and brightest to care for us and our loved ones when we are at our most vulnerable. Let’s do all we can to encourage those in this field and those considering it.
Join me today in a salute to NURSES.
Thanks for reading. Looking forward to your comments and connections, both virtual and in person. Next up, “O” for OPPORTUNITY.
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