It’s National Nurses Week, and there’s no doubt about it – we’ve got a lot of amazing nurses here at PHS. Whether they’re coming in to patient homes for a private duty nursing shift or an infusion visit, our RNs and LPNs are simply the best. Nurses undoubtedly have some of the best stories from experiences on the job, and throughout the week we were able to hear some of them – and wanted to share!
Why did you choose nursing as a career?
“My first child was a very ill child. He in was in the hospital for many months and I did all his nursing cares that I could in the hospital and at home (like many of our families). Once he was on the road to recovery, I went back to school for nursing.” - Lacee
“I chose nursing because of the passion I have for caring for people who cannot help themselves. Because of this passion, work doesn’t seem like work; rather, it feels like a ministry, giving my all to my patients and feeling complete at the end of my shift. I enjoy it so much!” – Ebie
“My mom told me all through my childhood and adolescence I should be a nurse. After spending a couple years at UMD, I decided to make the switch to nursing and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. It’s a perfect fit! I guess mother really does know best…but don’t tell her I said that!” – Stephani
“I have always wanted to work with children, the flexibility of hours and job locations, from working in a lab to delivering babies, there are nurses everywhere!” – Holly
What is a memorable story from the road on your way to see a patient?
“One of my patients had a turkey for a pet (and it was about as big as a large truck tire!) that I didn’t see it as I walked up toward the house and didn’t know it was a pet. It gobbled at me and starting running toward me… I dropped my bags and ran away (probably screaming). Then the patient came out laughing and yelled to me it was a pet just like a dog – could have fooled me!” – Chrissie
“On the way home from an 11 hour shift in which nothing seemed to go right, I was exhausted, driving in snow, freezing because my heat hadn’t kicked in, and dreaming of my bed. I saw an older man lying on the side of the road with a police officer standing over him. My nursing instinct told me to stop, so I did and asked if I could help. Turns out the man had fallen on the ice after crossing the street and thought his ankle was broken. So I sat down on the ice, gently unlaced and pulled off his boot, and pushed his jean leg up. Yep, broken ankle. So I sent the cop into the nearby gas station for ice and sat there with him for 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived, put the splint on, and got him into the ambulance and off to the hospital. That night I wished I had driven my husband’s car with heated seats because my back side was frozen solid!” – Alicia
“I once drove in blizzard conditions (should never have been on the road) to pull a PICC line on a 4 year old. I had tried to convince mom it could wait until the next day, but she had promised her daughter it was coming out this particular day – so I went. When I got there, she had finally gone outside and said to me- You should never have come today!” – Jill
What is your favorite or best nursing moment?
“I think most shifts because almost every day there is at least a little forward progress made. We may not always see it, but when I think about where they were when I started with them and where they are today, I can see the improvements. I don’t know if they would be progressing so well if they were not with their families, living life and seeing that there are things to look forward to, and having us come to them rather than sitting in a hospital away from their families and all of the fun they can have in their own home. Every day with the kids make me smile, which gives me at least one best moment every day! – Alicia
“Watching patients fulfill goals; watching babies “firsts,” being given a hug of appreciation, hearing “thank you for giving me the time of day, thank you for listening, thank you for being patient with me.” – Danielle
“Seeing my first client successfully decannulated and on his way out of needing PHS nursing care. On my last shift with him he woke up in the night needing some comforting and pulled my hand into his crib and held it in his lap for a few moments. He hadn’t reached out to me like that before as I had only been with him for a short time, but it really touched me. His family and him were a wonderful family to be welcomed into PHS by and it was a privilege to be a part of their journey!” – Ashley
“Hearing a previously trached kiddo who never vocalized, make noises and audibly cry for the first time.” – Holly
To celebrate the amazing work they do, we finished the week off with an ice cream social to say thanks to the nurses who do such incredible things for our patients, community and company. They truly make a world of difference. If you’re a nurse, we are so grateful for the work you do. If you know a nurse, make sure to thank them for the care they provide to so many day in and day out!
