Sometimes I wonder about the people you meet during the course of your lifetime. I feel like there's two types of people in the world: the ones that made a difference, and the ones that didn't. By making a difference, I don't mean obliterating the greenhouse gases problem, or finding the cure to cancer, although, both would be absolutely wonderful and very admirable. I am talking about those people that you meet on a plane, at a store, or maybe even at work. Someone that changed the way you carry yourself, the way you act, or even the way you think.
One person that has made an effect on my life was an elderly man at the nursing home I used to work at. I had recently had a bad experience with one of the elderly men at the nursing home and was very hesitant on going into a man's room alone. However, I walked into his room, informed him that I was his nurse aide, took his vitals and was on my way out the door. As I turned around to leave, he asked me, "Are you busy? Do you think you could sit here a little while with me?" A red flag went up in my mind, but I ignored it and pulled up a chair. I don't remember exactly what we talked about, I have no idea. I just remember him telling me that he felt lonely and sad. He said he had a family, and children, grandchildren, and now all he had was four walls and a television. His children don't come to visit him and his wife passed away and he just wanted someone to talk to for a little while. Holding in my tears took so much effort; no person should ever feel that lonely.
I don't know how many times I've thought about that conversation. I wonder if he even remembers me. Probably not, but I remember him. Maybe that day I touched his life, made a small difference. But I know he touched mine. It's hard to take time out of your day for someone else these days. In the hustle and bustle of our consumer lifestyle, small little things have lost their importance.
People forget that it is these small things that make bigger things. Thoughts turn into ideas which turn into actions and those lead to consequences. With that simple conversation, that man changed my way of thinking. As a future health care professional, I absolutely abhor the thought of a doctor, nurse or nurse aide walking into a patient's room spending five measly minutes with them and leaving. That is simply not acceptable. Ever since that encounter, I changed the way I approached patients. I have worked with the ideology that no matter what is going on in your life, when you walk into a patient's room, nothing matters but the patient. None of my former patients will know about the old gentleman that helped me realize the true meaning of "health care", but I hope that I made a small difference in their life like he did in mine. And maybe one day, I'll touch a life, like he touched mine.
Over and Out.
One person that has made an effect on my life was an elderly man at the nursing home I used to work at. I had recently had a bad experience with one of the elderly men at the nursing home and was very hesitant on going into a man's room alone. However, I walked into his room, informed him that I was his nurse aide, took his vitals and was on my way out the door. As I turned around to leave, he asked me, "Are you busy? Do you think you could sit here a little while with me?" A red flag went up in my mind, but I ignored it and pulled up a chair. I don't remember exactly what we talked about, I have no idea. I just remember him telling me that he felt lonely and sad. He said he had a family, and children, grandchildren, and now all he had was four walls and a television. His children don't come to visit him and his wife passed away and he just wanted someone to talk to for a little while. Holding in my tears took so much effort; no person should ever feel that lonely.
I don't know how many times I've thought about that conversation. I wonder if he even remembers me. Probably not, but I remember him. Maybe that day I touched his life, made a small difference. But I know he touched mine. It's hard to take time out of your day for someone else these days. In the hustle and bustle of our consumer lifestyle, small little things have lost their importance.
People forget that it is these small things that make bigger things. Thoughts turn into ideas which turn into actions and those lead to consequences. With that simple conversation, that man changed my way of thinking. As a future health care professional, I absolutely abhor the thought of a doctor, nurse or nurse aide walking into a patient's room spending five measly minutes with them and leaving. That is simply not acceptable. Ever since that encounter, I changed the way I approached patients. I have worked with the ideology that no matter what is going on in your life, when you walk into a patient's room, nothing matters but the patient. None of my former patients will know about the old gentleman that helped me realize the true meaning of "health care", but I hope that I made a small difference in their life like he did in mine. And maybe one day, I'll touch a life, like he touched mine.
Over and Out.
