A nursing moment is often described as an event that happens early in your career that shapes the type of nurse that you will eventually become. For me, my nursing moment occurred during my third semester of nursing school.
I can remember sitting in post conference after an event filled clinical that included a rapid response and the eventual death of my patient. While sitting in post conference and discussing the events that had occurred I had to take a break and excused myself to the restroom. After arriving at the bathroom I saw that it was occupied and that I would have to wait. So there I was propped against the wall, waiting patiently for my turn in the bathroom when the door opened. All I could think was "finally" until I turned the corner and almost ran into the person who was in the bathroom. Preparing to apologize for this near miss I looked up and made eye contact with the brother of my patient who had passed. Knowing that I was his sister's nurse, he looked me in the eyes, put his arm around me, and began to sob. Overcome by such emotion, I was not sure what to do besides allow him to cry on my shoulder. At that point, I knew that there was a place for me in nursing and that it wasn't a 4.0 or dean's list that creates a good nurse, but instead it's the way that you interact with the patient and family while providing care for them as a whole.
I can remember sitting in post conference after an event filled clinical that included a rapid response and the eventual death of my patient. While sitting in post conference and discussing the events that had occurred I had to take a break and excused myself to the restroom. After arriving at the bathroom I saw that it was occupied and that I would have to wait. So there I was propped against the wall, waiting patiently for my turn in the bathroom when the door opened. All I could think was "finally" until I turned the corner and almost ran into the person who was in the bathroom. Preparing to apologize for this near miss I looked up and made eye contact with the brother of my patient who had passed. Knowing that I was his sister's nurse, he looked me in the eyes, put his arm around me, and began to sob. Overcome by such emotion, I was not sure what to do besides allow him to cry on my shoulder. At that point, I knew that there was a place for me in nursing and that it wasn't a 4.0 or dean's list that creates a good nurse, but instead it's the way that you interact with the patient and family while providing care for them as a whole.