Healthy Living

There are almost 3 million nurses practicing in the United States today, so chances are you or someone in your family has chosen this profession. Most nurses would agree that it is a privilege to travel with patients on their healthcare journeys. I asked a few of my nurse friends and colleagues to share some of the things they have learned in their nursing career.

Jessica Vanase, Backus Breast Care Navigator Nurse said, “People trust nurses. A lot. The trust that patients put in your hands is an enormous responsibility, and you have to be on your game every day you work.” She also said, “The best thing I can do is teach a patient how to advocate for themselves, find legitimate information, and take charge of their own health conditions.”

Lisa Bazinet, Eastern Region Manager of Cancer Care Services, said, “Being a nurse is really, really hard work. It’s not like an episode of ER or Grey’s Anatomy. You often see the nurses in these shows on break or in the cafeteria. That is the Hollywood version of nursing. Nurses are never in the cafeteria sipping coffee or on break. It never happens.”

Another important point Lisa wanted to make is, “It’s OK to cry if your patient dies. Many of us were taught not to get too close to your patient — ‘it’s unprofessional — keep your distance.’ I feel differently. Having that emotional connection with that patient and their family makes their loved one feel special and cared for- not merely a diagnosis or a room number. Making these special connections is why I became a nurse in the first place. There’s nothing more rewarding than making that difference in the lives of people in need!”

Liz Fracchia, an APRN at Backus Hospital told me, “Kindness always matters; whether it’s appreciated or not doesn’t matter.” Her advice for new nurses is, “Always do the right thing for your patients, for your family, and for yourself. If you follow this rule you will never regret it.”

All of the nurses I surveyed felt that injecting humor into healthcare encounters can be positive and promote healing. “Laughter is the best medicine” seems to be a common theme. Lori Surber, Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator at Windham Hospital shared some very humorous insights. She said, “I have become the best co-pilot for road trips since nurses are known to be able to go without using the restroom for an entire 12 hour shift.”

Amy Dunion, Director of the Center for Healthcare Integration (CHI) agrees: “Humor goes a long way, but love goes all the way.” Always the optimist, Amy also adds, “You never know when something miraculous is going to happen.”

Nurses have many roles, all with varying challenges that we must meet on a daily basis. But providing comprehensive quality healthcare requires enormous team effort; from patients, doctors, nurses, medical assistants, dietitians, aides, respiratory and physical therapists, lab and x-ray techs, pharmacists, and many more. A smart nurse values and acknowledges the importance of every other member of the team.

Most of us love being a nurse and couldn’t imagine being anything else. National Nurses Week is May 6-12 this year, a time to pause and celebrate the nurses in your life. I am proud to a part of the nursing profession and concur with Nurse Amy Dunion as she declares, “We’re all in this together.”