that is tough. really tough.
we are there to be whatever we can be to alieviate the situation. to be a help. to offer a prayer, to offer a listening ear, to offer a shoulder to cry on, if we are allowed to,
i know because there were nurses that helped me while my 16 yr old died of cancer. they gained my respect so deeply that after i got myself on an even keel a little bit, i entered college to be a help. i am on my way to become a pediatric RN, God willing.
just listen to them. you dont have to say a word. if you just listen and show you care, that is worth millions.
you are under a load of care, at that point that it helps just to know someone is there. listening, understanding, truely caring, and accepting you--even when you might react to the situation negatively.
Thank you for being there supporting the family.
thank you for being there to make a difference in any way that you can.
thank you for your compassion.
thank you for what you do--day in and day out
God bless you
rascal

sad, sad, night
Thank you Rascal for YOUR understanding, and I am truly sorry for your loss. I think it's Awsome you went back to school and became a nurse, we need more nurses with the compassion that I am sure you hold.
As a matter of fact, I requested for a transfer from the ONC floor and went to Mothers and Baby unit yesterday. So I am starting something different. I feel sad about leaving my old floor, but I felt as though I needed to be somewhere else for a while. That night will live on with me a long time.
I guess I should explain a little about the Pt/nurse relationship. JD was diagnosed in april 2005 with ALL. He went into remission and married his wife in Nov. The whole floor was invited to the wedding, which 5 of us showed up. I was fortunate enough to dance that night with the groom and listen to how grateful he was for our help. 3 mos later, his counts went down and he was out of remission and had just found out she was pregant. He was able to stick around to see (via ulta sound) that it's a girl and to name her. When he passed, I found his wife with all their wedding photos on top of him and their lap top was playing the DVD of the two of them walking into the sunset the night of their wedding, playing their wedding theme. Thank you for listening... Diana

I am glad you are moving on, sometimes we need a new change of pace. Thank you for all of your hard work everyday!

Dear Rascal- I hope all is going well with you. My son has cancer. He is 26 and was finally diagnosed at age 21 with colon cancer with mets to the liver and lungs. Doctors didn't listen to him and so it wasn't found until it was too late. He had 85% of his liver removed two years ago, and has had tumors wedged out of two lungs. He now has another tumor in his lung. Please, all of you, pray for him. His name is Paul. He has been on chemotherapy for almost five years now. His wife left him because she couldn't deal with it anymore. Rascal, I was once a pediatric ICU nurse at a university hospital. Don't let anyone talk you out of it-- a lot of people would say "I couldn't stand to see the sick kids" but believe me, it was a lot better to see them and help them, than to be afraid of them. I loved that type of nursing more than any other. You feel like you are making a difference. I now work with adults, and it is harder to feel the same way about an 80 or 90 year old. I have a soft spot in my heart for you, Rascal. Hurry up and finish school, the children need you!!