As mentioned in my previous article, my father developed a serious heart condition this past year. Despite his recent decline in health, he has remained surprisingly positive about the situation. I’m convinced one of the main things that’s helped him through this rough patch of life is the amazing care from the nursing staff at the hospitals he’s been in and out of.
The quality of care he has received from nurses has been a breath of fresh air. These events have really shown me what nurses are capable of, and how working that job must be very exhausting, mentally and physically.
I’m happy to say that medical staff, especially nurses, have saved my dad’s life multiple times this year. What sets nurses apart is that they pay attention to the little details. They leave no stone unturned.
They are compassionate, despite stress
People get scared in the hospital, because it’s a stressful and unpredictable place. Nurses handle stress with grace because they face more demanding situations than the majority of humans. In matters of life or death, split second calls makes all the difference.
Nurses have always kept their composure in my experiences.
I received three spinal taps a few years ago. In spite of the doctor stabbing into my spinal tissue with a massive needle, the nurse in the room kept me positive through the errors and intense level of pain. She helped talk me through it, and pointed out the benefits of the procedure to my long-term health. The nurse held my hand and comforted me through the entire process.
And that’s exactly what nurses do best.
They put themselves in the patients’ shoes
Nurses understand and relate to their patients. They realize that a hospital stay is no walk in the park. When patients are at their lowest, nurses are able to identify this and grasp the patient’s perspective. Nurses converse with patients in a way that makes them feel safe and cared for. This helps put minds at ease and keeps spirits lifted.
Realistically, nurses are extremely mindful people. They use caring words and avoid discouraging actions.
They comfort everyone in need
When I stayed with my father in a hospital several hundred miles away from our home, the nurses treated me as if I were a guest in a hotel. They did everything within their power to help me stay positive and feel welcome. Whether it was helping me find a place to sleep, getting me extra pillows and blankets, or chatting with me about the situation at hand, I felt comforted by the nursing staff at the hospital. They checked in with me regularly to see how I was coping with the stress and fear at hand. This type of behavior absolutely meant the world to me.
They possess a strong emotional IQ
It’s one thing to possess intelligence, but what’s even more impressive is emotional intelligence. A previous Lifehack article points out that emotional intelligence is determined by our level of ability to:
- Recognize and understand our emotions and reactions (self-awareness)
- Manage, control, and adapt our emotions, mood, reactions, and responses (self-management)
- Harness our emotions to motivate ourselves to take appropriate action, commit, follow-through, and work toward the achievement of our goals (motivation)
- Discern the feelings of others, understand their emotions, and utilize that understanding to relate to others more effectively (empathy)
- Build relationships, relate to others in social situations, lead, negotiate conflict, and work as part of a team (social skills)
Emotional IQ is considered to be just as valuable as standard intelligence in workplaces. In the world of nursing, this is evergreen and essential. Nurses possess important technical skills and balance those with a high level of emotional understanding.
They always account for human emotion.
They aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty
Nurses have to perform many duties that no one wants to do, but they don’t let it show. Helping people is their number one priority, no matter what the job, no matter how dirty or stinky. The fact is that nurses have a genuine desire to assist people with recuperation, and become what many would describe as “beautifully desensitized.” Basically, this means that they will help no matter how disgusting the scenario may seem, and they look past things deemed disgusting by most.
It all comes down to is a genuine desire to help those facing times of dire need. When a catheter needs to be removed, a nurse will be there. When a patient is bleeding all over the place, a nurse will be there. And when bodily functions are no longer controllable, a nurse will be there.
They will be there, and they will never make you feel embarrassed or ashamed.
Nurses don’t sweat the small details and intricacies of their job. They are always there for their patients, and that’s why it takes a very special person to fill the role of a nurse.
Featured photo credit: Bradley University Online via onlinedegrees.bradley.edu
