There are moments in nursing that are simply magic-the ones that reaffirm why you chose this profession and make you forget the ones that left doubts. These are the moments when everything comes together in perfect synchrony. The team performs flawlessly, as if each move was choreographed to achieve perfection. And in that moment, talking isn't even necessary-communication occurs on some deeper level and is understood without the need for words. The team becomes a single entity, each part contributing seamlessly to the whole. The collective actions are performed with an energy, heart, and soul that are palpable. When the moment ends, there's no question that everyone gave their all. There's satisfaction for a job well done and the presence of an esprit des corps that connects individuals through the shared experience in ways that are not possible under usual circumstances.
I just had such a moment with my team. As a group of medical volunteers, we saved a man's life at the finish line of a marathon. CPR, an automated external defibrillator, and timing were key parts of the magic that changed the fate of our gentleman and his family. So, I can only imagine that the 2013 Boston Marathon medical team, as well as those who came forward to help at the scene and in area hospitals, experienced a similar phenomenon. Despite the horror of that event, the rescuers not only saved lives but also reestablished a critical link to humanity for a nation at a time when that faith was shaken by bomb blasts.
After Boston's senseless tragedy, I read a Facebook post that contained wisdom attributed to Mr. Fred Rogers (from the children's TV show, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood) that really resonated: "When I was a boy and would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" The wife of the man whom we saved at our finish line expressed her gratitude by saying, "Goodness and kindness surely exists in this world." Whenever it's easier to become cynical or to wall-off from painful events that happen to us or around us, keep these words close to your heart. They are indeed lifesavers.
Until next time-
Linda Laskowski-Jones, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, CEN, FAWM
Editor-in-Chief, Nursing2013 Vice President: Emergency & Trauma Services Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Del.