I was involved in a situation recently where, as a community nurse, I got to see what an incredible team of nurses I work with. Our dedication to provide care for a palliative care patient and support his family to keep their husband and father at home, deserves deep appreciation.
It wasn’t a perfect start as this patient had a sudden deterioration at a time where there was limited staff available and the family had to nurse him the best that they could, while care could be more coordinated. This took about 2-3 days, which was quite stressful for the family. It was also stressful for the nurses who were supporting, as they were not at that time able to make the necessary arrangements for a home death.
Regardless of the situation and its challenges, each nurse provided detailed and caring support for the family, offering education and advice, they were simply there for them.
What I observed in the nurses, was that because it was perceived that nothing much was achieved or that a desired outcome was not met by the nursing staff themselves – it was felt that they did nothing, leaving them to think that there was nothing to value or appreciate at the end.
I was struck by this and began pondering on how we are in nursing. Do we appreciate the tiniest details in our practice or value the quality of our presence in all that we do?
Without this appreciation, to nurse ends up being all about the function of nursing… if the boxes are ticked and the outcome is ‘good’.
I know most nurses would have had the experience of seeing someone’s stress just melt away when they see us and start talking to us. They are in the presence of someone who is listening to them, potentially starting treatments, providing a very gentle touch and just being with them without expectation – accepting them as they are.
This is huge and means everything to a person who is frightened, disheartened or who may be walking into the unknown.
Whilst our skills are important and there is always much to learn, nursing is more than just a collection of skills done in automatic pilot. There is a genuine quality in how we are with people that we can then bring to every aspect of nursing. The simplicity of our presence, which is often very welcome, cannot be underestimated.
When we have the understanding that this is what we bring as nurses and stop judging ourselves based on a perceived outcome, we get to see that there is always something for us to appreciate… that what we do is actually really incredible – an expression of community, team work, remarkable dedication, commitment and ultimately an expression of love towards others.
