Seeing as it is National Nurses Week I decided to write a post about the amazing colorectal nurses who cared for me for many many weeks on the colorectal ward E14 at the Queens Medical centre, Nottingham.
#ThisNurse
They were all totally awesome and caring but a few of them went above and beyond. One nurse in particular was so kind all the time but I remember if I was upset which was often, and she was on duty, she would come and kiss my forehead. This was such a nice gesture that I would like to thank her for making me feel so cared for. She had the softest lips too so it really made you feel better. ( it probably sounds more weird than it actually was lol).
They would help me with my depression and chat to me when possible. They clubbed together and bought me a cuddly toy and a card for mine and my husbands anniversary, as I was very poorly on that day. If they saw me walking only a few yards, they would make me feel like I had walked a mile. The sisters on the ward were not like Hattie Jacques as you would imagine, but lovely knowledgable people who knew when IÂ needed to do certain things even if I really couldn’t face it, to letting me off now and again when I was at my worst.
I remember my appetite was non existent for many weeks and I was so scared of not ever getting it back, my family would be worried and try and force me to eat more which of course didn’t work. The nurses would tell me that if I only ate a very small amount, it would be helping and try not to worry about it, that it would improve over time. The more I stress about it the worse it would be, so I tried not to worry, as it happens I did need to be NG tube fed eventually, but the nurses were always calm so they helped in many ways over the food issue. Of course ,they were right and my appetite eventually returned with a vengeance.
They cleaned and packed my wounds daily, gently and caring. They washed me and changed my soiled clothes, never making me feel like I was to blame.
They spent time with me, time they didn’t really have.
Considering their job work load and the type of ward they work on ( all poo and bowels) they are angels. They care for some of the most ill patients as their chosen field, in colorectal, they have to be a special person to choose that calling.
From the healthcare workers to the sisters, you are one in a million.
You are never “Just a nurse”
