Bloomin’ onion (Taken with instagram)
“One change changes everything”
Term 2 is almost over and of course I have learned so much, especially in clinicals.
Being able to provide care for the elderly is not just a task to be completed, a duty to be prepared for, a responsibility to be graded for but a life-changing and rewarding experience. I gave multiple bed baths,passed meds, witnessed different procedures, became part of an on going care for people and most importantly, I shared feelings with people who have experienced LIFE more than I have.
I met Mr. H, a patient in a facility I was assigned to in Term 2. He was not my patient, he was my friend’s, but I tend to help this friend when it comes to giving bed baths ( position, turning) Mr. H is a very kind and polite man. He sings, tells wonderful stories and gives his nurses & student nurses a smile and ” thank you” for every lil thing they do for him. I once stayed in his room with my friend because he said he was gonna sing for us, and he did. As he was singing, my friend asked ” were you a singer?”. Mr. H answered ” When someone is speaking, or singing…you listen…you do not interrupt…if you don’t wanna listen..you go away…that’s respect.” My friend and I looked at each other and she said sorry. Mr. H continued to sing and we enjoyed listening to him until it was time to go.
When I went home, I was thinking about what Mr. H said, I wanted to post it on facebook because those words are so simple, yet so powerful when I think about it but then I hesitated because…WHO LISTENS NOWADAYS? People always interrupt, people always tend to hurt others purposely and unconsciously… WHY?
The next day after that , my friend got the same patient again and needed help with positioning and turning again, so I went to Mr. H’s room. Mr H was very happy to see us, he was telling us how lucky we are to have each other as friends because we help each other. Then he just blurted out ” If someone is bringing you down all the time, or hurting you in a way that he/she shouldn’t have, then you have to walk away… a friend is not someone who hurts you just because he/she likes to make fun of you. You both deserve to have friends that are kind and bring you up, not pull you down.” I looked at my friend and her eyes are watery….then I felt my tears running down my cheek. Those words hit me BIG TIME. I stayed quiet the whole time I was there, until I got home. I kept thinking about all the things I have gone through, all the feelings I have felt, all the pain I have kept……. WHY did I keep it going? and still I cared and stayed.
Then came the last day of our clinicals. My friend and I visited Mr. H for the last 15 mins before we go. He was not feeling well, but he talked to us. He said ” You girls are gonna be great nurses. Do not be ashamed of what you do not know, do not be jealous if for now people are smarter than you…. a lot of smart people did not get what they wanted… all you need is a goal and a heart to pursue it and you should be fine.” My friend said ” Mr. H, we’re not gonna be together next time, she’s going to VA” Mr H replied ” ahhh VA is such a great hospital, you will learn a lot. You guys do not need to be together all the time, I know both of you will do good and be better nurses one day… “
Meeting Mr. H was something that I would never forget… His words of wisdom are so powerful that I would tear up just by relating it to what I am going through. I am ending this term with a smile, I am letting go of things and people that hurt me.
SAY HELLO TO CHANGE because IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
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