The hospital can be a bleak place. Aside from childbirth, people are not normally there for positive reasons. For many, it's the building in which they take their last breath. For them, typically the last face they see is their nurse.
While doctors often get the credit, nurses are the ones who constantly check on you, change your IVs, and try to make your experience as pleasant as possible. It's not a job for the weak — they're often yelled at, underpaid, and overworked. Many of them burn out after a few years, understandably so. That's why posts like this from Sandra Kluskowski are so meaningful. It's a reminder that nurses get into the industry because they genuinely care.
Sandra made this post on December 5, and it was shared over 10,000 times. It seems to be about one patient in particular, although it could apply to many situations. "I was just another voice getting report and gathering all information so I would know more about you," she wrote. "Did you hear the marker on the whiteboard spell out my name?"
"I didnt need to verbally hear you say you were in pain, your moans were enough and I understood clearly," the post read. "I ran out to get a warm blanket from the heater. I hoped that it would warm you up. You were shivering. Did you know I was there?"
The post also serves as a tribute. Unfortunately, the patient that she wrote about didn't make it. "The doctor would soon say 'we have done all that we can do,'" she said. "If only you could have heard my thoughts. I've only known you since this morning but I didn't want you to go."
She also wrote about how, even though she didn't know the patient on a personal level, she still felt extreme sadness after the call was made. "My hands were trembling, as I spoke to you about all the things I had to do to get you ready to be picked up," she wrote. "I talked about my kids, I figured you would understand because you were a parent."
"Did you see how I kept looking up at the ceiling to hold back tears?" she continued. "The lump in my throat was the worst part. It felt like I couldn't breathe. Did you know I was there?" The unfortunate part was, she'll never get that answer. And, this isn't the last time she'll be put in this position with a question like that.
It's hard to remember that nurses see death all the time. It's not the outcome they're hoping for, but some people are just too sick to recover. It's just one of the many unfair truths about life. One day, it'll end — and plenty of people will be affected by the loss. For years after the death, loved ones will try to figure out how to adjust.
You'd assume your family would be upset, but you may not realize that the nurses and hospital staff would also feel that way. When you enter, they often learn a little bit about you and try their hardest to get you back home. So, if that doesn't happen, they might feel like they're responsible for that, even though they're not.
"Did you hear me whisper to you two hours prior to your passing that 'YOU are truly loved?' I don't understand how I could have met you on this specific morning and felt this kind of love for someone I barely even knew. I can't explain it," said Sandra. With those lines, it's apparent that she — like many nurses — has a big heart.
She also admitted that this wasn't her first patient's death, which is a moment that sticks with many doctors and nurses. "I just want you to know that I did my best," she noted. "I was scared again and this wasn't the first time. I wanted more than ever for you to feel comfortable and safe all the way to the moment I covered you with a sheet and turned and closed the door behind me as quietly as possible as if to say…..I'm letting you rest."
Even if her patients were incapable of knowing she was there, the patient's family likely did — and that's something they should be appreciative of. It's never easy to have someone in the hospital, but knowing they're being cared for by professionals is a good feeling.
While the outcome wasn't the best, the last moments of their lives were surrounded by love — and that's something everyone can only hope for. Even if a nurse isn't as outspoken as Sandra, they likely feel similarly about certain patients. That's one of the reasons why people on Facebook were so quick to share the post.
If you have a loved one in the hospital, the full post may be worth a read. While your situation is likely quite upsetting, it'll cheer you up to know that there are people surrounding your loved one who remind them they're loved, and that they've had a wonderful and meaningful life. It's a good way to feel at peace.
A post like this might also inspire people to become nurses. It might not be a job for everyone, but it's a job the world truly needs. Nurses don't get half the respect they should. They often miss big family holidays and keep strange hours, just to care for our loved ones.
But it's still a rewarding profession with plenty of opportunities to meet an array of different people. Good nurses will stand by their patients, even if they've had a tough day or have dealt with difficult people throughout their shift. Caring is part of their nature.
If you work at a hospital, or unfortunately have to visit one throughout the year due to your own health battles, remember that Nurses Appreciation Week falls every year between May 6 and May 12. It couldn't hurt to tell your nurse how much their hard work means to you. You can brighten their day the way they brightened yours.
