It's been a long shift
At tea time, I did a favour for one of my fellow nurses and helped her patient, an elderly gentleman I did not know, to eat his soup.
In my experience , it is at these little "intimate" times that people often impart the biggest and most important snippets of themselves and after battling with his lunch the obviously wearied man,turned his head into his pillow with closed eyes and said "I just want to go to sleep and not wake up again"
He wanted no real platitude to this statement, I think he just wanted to share what he was thinking and all I could really do was to reply
"That is an awfully sad thing to say"
...and it was.......
......another 13 hour shift tomorrow
Oh, poor man and poor you. What a hard job you have, John.
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad. I'm glad that he had you there with him, John. I'm sure it made a difference to him.
ReplyDeleteSad on both sides of the coin, John.
ReplyDeleteSigh......
Dear John, You are so right that it is in these tiny, almost insignificant moments that momentous words are spoken and feelings made known. I have such admiration for the nursing profession since day after day the whole range of emotions from deepest sadness to great joy is encountered and dealt with.
ReplyDeleteThis time of year can be very challenging for the elderly or those who feel isolated and I am sure that by just being there and listening that helped so much.
*hugs* ♥
ReplyDeleteI think oftentimes the sheer effort of everyday tasks wears a soul down, especially if they are trying to overcome an illness.
ReplyDeleteIt seems so much more inviting, to just close your eyes, and sleep...
I'm happy you were with him, to help comfort him, and listen to his innermost thoughts.
Your a compassionate person, ooops, we already know that ;)
Gah. This reminds me of the time Noah (a police officer) was speaking to a young boy, and the boy asked Noah to say hello to his father for him—the boy's father was in jail.
ReplyDeleteYou're a friggin hero. I've said why I think ICU nurses are the best before. Gotta love ya. xxx
ReplyDeleteYes! A poor old man, dying, and just wanting to go out quietly and peacefully.
ReplyDeleteMy paradox was always that of dealing with those who had everything life had on offer ahead of them and they just wanted to "top themselves"! It exhausted me just trying to convince them not to do so!
Bless his heart...your job is a hard one. I tell you the times I was in the hospital my nurses made allllllll the difference! I only had one bad one ever and I had several exceptional ones! You guys make such a difference!
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad. But with the holiday season I know there are many that feel that way...Thankfully there are kind people like you who are there to offer kindness and compassion.
ReplyDeleteSuch a shame when the elderly get to the point where they just want to 'let go'. My Great Grandfather lived 4 months past his 100th birthday and when he could no longer be active he would lay in bed with covers over his head and pray to die. It's so hard to know what to say to a person when you know they don't want to live any more. I hope your next shift is a better one John. X
ReplyDeleteThat is sad.
ReplyDeleteI think it's criminal that we can compassionately help our beloved pets leave this world when there suffering becomes too great ~ but a family member has to waste away and often suffer senselessly until it is actually a relief when they finally die!
ReplyDeleteSomething is very, Very wrong with that...
I also thank God for all the nurses out there who do what they can to comfort and make comfortable the patients that they care for so faithfully. It takes a very special person to be a good nurse!
John, you are doing a wonderful job, I know exactly where you are coming from as my youngest son is a charge nurse here in the south.
ReplyDeleteHe has told lots of such tales and like you he liked to listen, sadly there are staff out there who are not as caring, but for those who are, they deserve the highest praise in my opinion.
Nursing is one of the hardest professions as it is not only physical but emotional as well and you have to be a special person to deal with this.
Wonderful poignant blog and a big thankyou...
How sad is that at this time of year
ReplyDeleteI wish my grandmother had such care at the end ( we were later told by the dear old lady in the next bed ) that two nurses said of my grandmother, " We'll leave the fat cow til the end" She was sat in a chair with no blanket covering her & her nighty wide open. It was in a village cottage hospital I hope those nurses receive the same care when they have had a stroke in their 80s. My grandmother was a smart dignified woman & did not deserve that.
ReplyDeleteHorray for caring people like you John.
that is indeed a very sad thing to say. To have no hope and just wish you didn't have to wake up is actually dreadful.
ReplyDeleteI hope today is a better day for him.
Gill
It is sad but understandable. When you are accustomed to independence and can no longer care for yourself, the release of that burden is what many wish.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good heart, John, may you supply comfort for those who need you.
I wonder why it has to be that way? We none of us would want to linger on to that extent. You do a great job John. xxx
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeletexxxxxx
I had a patient in hospice once who really, really wanted to die but she kept surviving EVERYTHING. She was even in a four car pile-up while being transported one time and everyone involved was injured but her! She confided to me once, perfectly serious, that she was worried she might be immortal. :-) We all started to wonder after a while, too. I used to look for signs of decline and then point them out to help her feel better, and she'd perk right up, her eyes would brighten with hope, and she'd say, "Really? Do you really think so?"
ReplyDeleteIt can be so hard to be ready to go and just get stuck. You just never know what kind of hand you're gonna have to play.
acuriouscure wrote: "You just never know what kind of hand you're gonna have to play.
ReplyDeleteLet's not go there, ehhh?