A Nurses Prayer: Today I Will

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By djtphn1


Today, I will open my eyes...

Today, I will only see the truth...

Today, I will take responsibility for my own actions..

Today, I will not blame...

Today, I will only see what I could have done differently

And that my patient is your patient

And yours, mine...

And that your patient could be my mother, father, sister or brother...

Today, I will know that each person I lay my hands on

Has a family, a history, a journey, that I pray

Does not end with me.....

But if it does

Today I will find comfort in knowing that I did

Everything possible to ensure that my patient was cared for

The way I would care for one of my own,

And today I will know that I am a good nurse

Just because of that...

Today, I will care about each person I have the privilege

To cross paths with and I will know that the

Magic of nursing

Happens in the wee hours of the morning

When there is no one else around,

Where secrets are shared over bedpans

And trust is implicit

Just because I am a nurse...

Today, I will believe in nursing

Once again!





Why This Poem Was Written: A Nurses Story

This poem was written on an old piece of scratch paper after a patient of a fellow nurse coded and subsequently died as a result of a glitch in the system, so to speak. After it happened, everyone was blaming everyone else. The nurses blamed the monitor techs, the monitor techs blamed the nurses, everyone blamed the system and the entire hosptial was in disarray. It was extremely traumatic for the patient, the family and all the staff. After I wrote this, I posted in anonymously in the lunch room, because, although it was not my patient, I felt that the ones who were involved needed to see that if EVERYONE would have acted a bit differenly, the patient's life may have been saved. NO MORE BLAME!

I think about that patient now and then, and wonder who he was.....how his family is doing and how they survived the grief over losing their father, brother, son and husband. And then I wonder......

Sometimes, it breaks my heart to be a nurse. Sometimes it is the most wonderful experience that you can imagine, holding someone's hand when they are dying and there is no one else by their side. Or when they finally get discharged and get one more chance at life! I think about all the patients I have cared for in my career, and hope that the ones that are still on God's green earth are still alive and kicking, and that somehow, I made their experience a little easier to bear.

Finally, a nurses prayer is always said next to a sick or dying patient, even if you cannot hear it! Thank God for nurses!!!!

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Jerrico Usher profile image

Jerrico Usher  says:
4 months ago

GOOD STUFF

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
4 months ago

Man, you are fast, dude....do you really like it....i just found that old piece of scratch paper laying around in my computer room and decided, what the heck, I will publish it here....totally unaware I still had it. Anyways, thanks for reading it. it kind of makes me all teary eyed and stuff.

scott crawley  says:
4 months ago

Wow this is true and we all have to be thankful for doctors and nurses.

It has to be hard to do but oh so rewarding to others and yourself.

Scott Crawley (Scwealth

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
4 months ago

Thank you Scott, glad you read it....

bohica profile image

bohica  says:
4 months ago

djtphn1 GOOD HUB! I am relieved to read that you have done something to left yourself and your colleagues everyday for a most difficult job! I had three aunts that were nurses; in addition to their thankless jobs they helped raise me. (Which was probably a thankless job also!)

What's the deal here? We expect quality service from nurses and doctors and everyone in the hospital related to saving ours lives. And yet we barely pay them a living wage. Are ours lives only worth $10.95 hour? We pay plumbers and electricians better than that to fix our toilets and TVS. Yet the CEOs of the HMOs or whatever makes millions of dollars! And leaves the ones standing ankle deep in blood and facing the grieving families out on in the cold. Does anyone, other than me, think that something is wrong here?

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
4 months ago

Glad you liked it, and appreciate your comments. Actually, nurses are paid pretty decent in Southern California. If I only got paid $10.95, I would definately not do it....but I do agree w/ you about the CEO's and HMO's making the big bucks....off of the sweat of nurses, if you will. anyway, thanks for stopping by.

dafla profile image

dafla  says:
4 months ago

Simply beautiful. I was recently hospitalized, and unfortunately, most of the nurses in my facility were NOT caring individuals. They spent most of their time at the desk, gossiping and ignoring us when we stood up there helplessly trying to get help with something.

On the other hand, I've had experiences with AWESOME nurses who were there constantly, caring and compassionate, and did a wonderful job.

I always let administration know when I get excellent care, and also when I get less than average care. Some people just weren't meant to be nurses, or they're burned out, or oversheduled, or whatever, but they don't do their jobs well.

Misha profile image

Misha  says:
4 months ago

Debbie, it's soo touchy... What a wonderful person you are!

sunkentreasure profile image

sunkentreasure  says:
3 months ago

Dear djtphn1

I salute you!

You really have wonderful virtues and a caring heart for helping people.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem.

With Appreciation

Kind Regards

Bernard Levine

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
3 months ago

Thank you so much Bernard...glad you visited from EHow!!!

Debbie   says:
2 months ago

I am a nursing student and have seen first hand how some nurses have forgotten what it is to truely be a nurse. I am currently working on a class presentation and am disgusted on how our health system has deteriorated. What happened to our code of ethics and have some of these doctor's forgotten their oath? I loved your poem. Beautifully written and heartfelt.

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
2 months ago

And you have only just begun, my dear. Many nurses feel the same as you. My goal is to get out of nursing. I work towards that every day. Thanks for your thoughts.

Internet MLM Now profile image

Internet MLM Now  says:
2 weeks ago

TEARY EYED TOO! I am a retired nursing director. My background though is critical care. My 2 cents worth is some day the healthcare system will know what Magnet Status means. It means nursing is the hub of great patient care outcomes. Support nursing and people survive the system. God bless you. I wish people like you would stay in nursing.

djtphn1 profile image

djtphn1  says:
2 weeks ago

We can't, it is just too damn hard, but until I make a full time living writing, which I am well on my way, I have to do it. Thanks for your comment!

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