What do you really want for Nurses Week? Is it the pen, the water bottle, the shirt, or food? Do these things really make you feel appreciated? While I won't deny I am happy to receive these token gifts; what I really want is for my colleagues to say thank you for having their back. The last shift I worked was especially busy. Most of the patients were on ventilators and vasopressors. Each room seemed to have a more critically ill patient than the last room. The Emergency Department had several critically ill patients to transfer up to us and the medical/surgical units were backed up with patients, so they couldn't take any transfers. This scenario is typical for anyone that works in acute care today.
What made the day a good day, yes that's right I said a ""good day""; was the fact that we all worked together. When one nurse had a patient in crisis, the other nurses were right there to pick up her other patients or help her handle the crisis. The day ran like a ""well oiled machine"" because we had each other's backs and we took the time to say ""thank you"" to each other. Never was the situation out of control, never did chaos reign supreme.
It doesn't matter whether you're an advanced practice nurse, an RN or an LPN; we're all colleagues working together for one purpose. So to all my colleagues out there; ""Happy Nurses Week and thank you. I''ve got your back because I know you have mine.
By Anne Dabrow Woods, MSN, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC
Tags :