Lani's Blog

What I am Passionate about....

Nurse


Professional, Busy,


Educating, Helping, Advocating


Many roles, many hands


Nurses





Line count:5





Line A: One vague or general one-word subject or topic.


Line B: Two vivid adjectives that describe the topic.


Line C: Three interesting “-ing” action verbs that fit the topic.


Line D: Four-word phrase that captures feeling about the topic.


Line E: A very specific term that explains Line A











I enjoy writing poetry  but I love Nursing. I wrote this Cinquain about 10 years ago for National Nurses Week which happens every May. It has never been published until now.





Some of you know that I am a Neonatal and Level 2 nursery nurse. I want to tell you a story of why I love my job.





I was working nights and I was doing an assessment on my patient. She was a little tiny boo who had just been weaned off the ventilator and was still fragile.





"So girl-friend, your heart sounds good, " I say in a sing-song voice. "No murmur, you lungs are clear, tummy is good at 21 cm (8.26 in). Mmmm, your pulses are strong. Way to go girl-friend." I hum a little tune as I continue the exam.


"Oh look at those cute little toesies and fingers. No bath tonight since you are just off the vent..."





A chuckle interrupted my flow.





"Oh Miss Lani, I love how you talk to the babies! It's not baby talk." said a mom who was close by holding her child.





Slightly embarrassed to be caught talking to the baby, I said, " I know but the chatter keeps me on track for what I need to do and I say it a baby talk voice. The babies hear the higher tones a little better. So it doesn't matter what I say but how I say it. Plus I like to let them what is happening. They may not understand my words but they understand tone. I feel sometimes I am speaking to their spirits."





"That is so sweet," she replied.





I went on with my shift and didn't think too much about the conversation. Although I became more aware of who was listening and what I was saying to the babies.





Several months later, I was working the day shift and I was called to the front desk for a visitor with a baby.





"You don't remember me do you?" said a smartly dressed lady hold a small baby in her arms. "A few months ago, I told you I liked your baby talk."





"Oh yes, your little one went home last month. How is she doing?"





"Great, we're here for a check-up. And I want to thank you."





"Me?" I said "But I only took care of your baby maybe twice during her hospitalization."





"Because I am a first time mother. A single mother. I don't know a lot a children and less about babies until now. Your calm demeanor, your precious baby talk showed me the way. I just needed to keep calm and talk to her about what is going to happen.  It keeps me on task and it keeps me from losing my cool. And it helped me bond to my baby."





I must've looked as dumbfounded as I felt. She hugged me and then talked with some of the other nurses and doctors who took care of her child.





"Good job." said my charge nurse patting my shoulder. "You never really know when something you say or do will make a difference so someone."





That's why I love my job.