May 12 is International Nurses’ Day.
And being a proud nurse. I’d like to share with everyone this video prepared by the IND committee of our hospital. Here’s a taste of how it it is to work in a place on a multicultural setting.
Check me out at 7:50-53 
Thanks to Jocelyn RN and Abed Masri for sharing the link.
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.
…
One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room’s only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end.
They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..
Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.
Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days, weeks and months passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.
She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.
‘Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .’
The origin of this letter is unknown, but please pass it on.
It seemed like an ordinary morning. I came to work early as usual. I placed my bag in my locker. I stuffed my pockets with all the ammunitions I need in the warzone – stethoscope, penlight, markers, alcohol swabs.
I went on to take the morning hand-over. I quickly browsed the computer system to check what my patients would be needing for the shift, and that actually means checking what kind of life I would be having for the next 12 hours. Well, it seemed like another busy day. I started planning inside my head. The tasks started to run wild inside my brains.
I was at this state when a colleague approached me. “Hey, you got a package in the fridge!”
“I do? Okay, I’ll check that now. Thanks.” And so I quickly went to the coffeeroom where our packages and mails are placed. I usually get stuff from the mail, but most of them work-related, like memos and education packs. But hey, did I hear him say “fridge?” Why did they put my package in the fridge?
As I opened the fridge, I found this brown box with a blue card with my name on it.
I opened the box and found colorful cupcakes.
My colleague told me that the box came from a patient who dropped by with his family. He described how the patient looked like, and I started remembering who that patient was.
That patient had a tracheostomy done (a surgical opening on the throat). He couldn’t talk because of his surgery so we communicated by writing on a piece of paper. He has been discharged many days back.
And here he is trying to communicate again by writing.
And his unspoken words meant so much.
They didn’t only mean that he appreciated the kind of care he had when he was under my care. They didn’t only mean that he was happy with how his surgery went.
For me, it also meant that what I have done for him has made him go back to the community to live again. It also meant that whatever I do for my patients, his family benefit too. It meant that all my hardwork don’t go unnoticed – that even patients who are unable to verbalize their feelings, know how to appreciate. It meant that “caring” does not only mean trying to complete all the tasks I have for the day, but it meant “touching somebody else’s life.”
I have read the message beyond the words. It meant that I should be proud of what I do as a nurse.
Thank you for reminding me that.
I just want to share this video to all the nurses out there.
NURSE ANGELICA LIGAS is a Filipino nurse working in Good Samaritan Hospital in Palm Beach, Florida. She was recently awarded the “Best Filipino Nurse 2012.” She’s a multi-awarded nurse and has been featured in some newspapers, and different websites for her work.
What makes me so proud is that she comes from the same nursing school where I studied – Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc.
Check out this inspirational message from NURSE ANGELICA.
A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call ASAP, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block.
“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I could ask about my son’s state” commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.
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