Remembering
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I heard a spirit that could not feel
I saw a mind that drifted away
I heard a voice with nothing to say
My educator day was cluttered with chores
With working with PCA's up on the floors
With teaching phlebotomy and planning the stick
With hoping the first try would do the trick
I went to her room to draw blood from a limb
Her husband was there so I chatted with him
They both were troubled "complained" of her care
I went to draw blood - tattooed numbers were there!
I stopped and looked up at their faces anew
I finally listened to what they'd been through
I learned of past terror. ..and saw it here now
We cried and we prayed and got through it somehow
We held hands and talked 'til tears turned to smiles
The nurse in me knew to stay there awhile
The PCA waited and bided her time
She saw more than expected, as the lesson was mine
I saw her heart that wanted to heal
I heard her spirit that struggled to feel
I saw her bright mind that wanted to stay
I heard her voice with so much to say
My day is now open to patients and staff
To learning and growing and sharing a laugh
To loving this life without hesitation
To remembering why I chose this vocation!!
—Barbara Smith, RN
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
My original reason to enter Nursing was to help people get well. I live a good life. But through the years, it has turned out to be so much more than that. Nursing has made me aware not only of the illness in life, but more importantly, the wellness and focus on the positive of getting better and really being able to help people return to their previous well being. It has taught me compassion, determination and steadfastness, all of which was learned from patients.
All in all, Nursing is still the noble profession it always has been and as we look toward the future, it will hopefully evolve into a dynamic, state of the art top profession.
—Jacqueline Wright, RN
Long Island Jewish Medical Center