Editor’s Letter

By Sarah Rowell Nurse-Recruiter.com

It is the time of year that we give thanks and I am so glad it is here. With the economy the way that it is, I feel that I hear a lot about troubles. The troubles are very real; job losses, foreclosures, rising prices and the list goes on. I can add to the endless list of troubles myself. But this holiday should make us all stop and think. It is a time for Thanks and for Giving. There are so many things to be thankful for, even in times of trouble. What comes to my mind are the things that don’t cost anything, such as my health and family and friends that I am blessed with. Why is it that we need a holiday to remind us of the blessings in our life? I am going to try and make each month a time for Thanks and a time for Giving. In this month’s newsletter, a nurse has written about what being a nurse means to her and another article takes a look at volunteer nursing. I hope that everyone can give pause this month and take a look at what they are thankful for and how you can give back. Happy Thanksgiving!

Volunteer Nursing

By Sarah Rowell Nurse-Recruiter.com

The caring does not have to stop when the paychecks do, according to nurses around the country who have discovered the joy in practicing as a nurse volunteer. Nurses are needed in volunteer roles locally, domestically and abroad. Depending on your experience and education, you can offer your services to help those in need in hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the country. For example, the American Red Cross began in 1909 with volunteer nursing and today there are 30,000 active volunteer nurses. Whether you commit to an overseas mission or volunteer at a local clinic for a few hours a month, the rewards of volunteer service are immense.

Many hospitals are developing nursing volunteer programs. Most of the nurses who volunteer are former employees who are retired. Volunteering is perfect because it keeps them involved with care giving yet allows them to avoid the stress, responsibilities and paperwork that come with a paid position. The nurse volunteer program provides nurses with an outlet and lets them get back to what they love doing. Usually, the volunteers need an active license and at least two years experience. They work under the direction of a staff nurse and have varying responsibilities depending on their expertise and area of interest.

Nursing homes are another area chock full of volunteer opportunities. Life in a nursing home, even the best of nursing homes, is often confusing, scary and lonely for the residents. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than fifty percent of nursing home residents have no close relatives and forty six percent have no living children. Those two factors are the major reason why sixty percent of nursing home residents never have visitors. Volunteering in a nursing home and spending time with a resident will help create memories that will provide comfort for the resident when friends and family are absent.

The responsibilities of volunteering are similar to paid nursing positions in terms of training and requirements and importance. The difference is in the reward; a volunteer is paid in other ways. The many benefits of volunteer nursing include the "feel good" feeling that comes from helping a person in need. Volunteering can also provide a nurse with extra training, a way to meet new people and career prospects.

 

REMEMBER THE CALLING

Anonymously submitted for Nurses On The Go Nov 2009

When I wake in the morning, I never know what God has in store for this ole' Nurse.

As I drive to work, thoughts of what can happen stream through my mind. Will I loose my patience, or will the twelve hour shift take a toll on me, seven hours in? Will my mind stay clear of my own problems long enough to make critical decisions that effect my patient's life? Will I make a medication error, or will someone not receive the care they deserve because of my patient load. Will I remember the patient at the very end of the hall? Will I meet the needs of my patient, physically and emotionally. Or will I be strong enough to hold a dying child's hand as they slip away? Only to then turn and search for the right words to comfort grief stricken parents, who are lingering on every word.....searching for a reason......(I never want to relive that again)

This should go through every Nurses mind.....everyday......Am I strong enough to carry the responsibility of another person's life? Am I willing to give of myself to a total stranger? Even if I am treated poorly by them? Who sets the standards of care you give to these strangers? Where is it written that a Nurse should give of herself....unconditionally?

If you agree with the concept that patients receive the quality of care based on the attitude they project to you...and you are a Nurse...go back to Nursing 101. I know of a Nurse who comes to work everyday with a smile on her face. The patients love her. They ask for her by name. Wow, what a difference she makes in a person's life. I was once told that there is more to Nursing than just talking or "bonding" with patients. There is more to Nursing than saying good bye at the end of the day.....Well, this Nurse was almost right. There is more than just talking to your patients or connecting with them....but not much more. I feel this Nurse has lost herself in the everyday shuffle of her job. A routine that every patient is treated the same, regardless of the need. A robotic attitude produces a sour Nurse. My advice to her is to remember the calling.

When the human touch is the last thing you give a patient....it shows. Taking the human touch out of Nursing is nothing short of a Nurse who does a job; but a job to be a Nurse is a much greater approach. What an honor God gives us...to endure a calling for Nursing. As a Nurse, can you remember the calling God gave you? Where were you when he called your name to the profession of Nursing? What happened in your life that drove you to the honor of becoming a Nurse?

Florence Nightingale gave of herself. Born into a rich, upper class British educator, she one day heard the calling of God's mission for her. Timeless days were common to a single, childless woman. By night, she would carry a lamp to light her path to help care for those in need. With little to no money, a hospital was her home. At times, a blanket of stars is all she had to sleep with. A long white dress with a navy shaw, and a white cap was her attire. She traveled many miles, on foot, to help those who needed her. Never thinking of herself, and never complaining, she set standards that all Nurses should abide by. "With a human touch, care for those who demonstrate a need."

At times, I get tired. But when I feel I just can't smile another smile, or give one more ounce of myself, I jolt quickly to a mind-set that anyone can Nurse, however,

 

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