An Honor

I started college for nursing in 1980 so in essence, I have been nursing for 25 years! Sometimes I sit in disbelief when I make statements like that. I still feel like I'm in my 20s most days. However, when I reflect on my personal and professional life, there are an abundance of experiences that comprise those 25 years. My main nursing experience has been in critical care. For over 15 years I worked in intensive care with acutely ill people. I know, it sounds stressful and it was. I enjoyed that type of nursing then, but never felt like I accomplished enough. I wasn't sure what that "enough" was, until I began community nursing. The "enough" was the people themselves. I entered into nursing because I enjoy people. I enjoy getting to know them and their families. Community or visiting nursing will often give the opportunity to do just that.
Some people don't understand the job and think that it is comprised of simple tasks. We perform many clinical skills in the home as patient acuity is higher these days. Hospitals are discharging patients earlier and earlier. Hospitals are closing beds in Canada to save money but the patients do suffer. I remember just before I left the hospital that it often felt like it was a revolving door of patients in and out constantly.
One of the most challenging and rewarding areas of nursing in the home is palliative or end of life care. Many families are opting to bring their terminally ill loved one home to die. The services that are available enable that to happen. Hospital beds and equipment for the home, nursing and personal support worker care for the patient and family. It is an honor to be part of that whole process. The patient and the family fall under our nursing care. The family has invited the nurse into their world and one of the most vulnerable times of their life. Often it is just a listening ear and wholehearted support is all that is needed.
This week, one of the young women from our church is bringing home her 17 year old son who has cancer. There is nothing the doctors can do any longer for this disease that is no respecter of persons. The scenario that I just described will be theirs.
I wrote in an earlier post about how things like this seem so unfair. I again have to give this whole situation to our God that sees the panoramic view of life. He has a plan for this young man as well as all of us in His care. Who knows how many lives this boy’s story has touched? In the process of his disease, he has surrendered his life to the Lord. His new faith and love for God has touched those who have witnessed the joy that a piece of Scripture has brought to his face. In his stress of life, He feels the love of a God who carries him each and every day.