It is that time of year when orthopaedic nurses celebrate what they do morning and night, around the clock, sometimes pulling double shifts, to help their patients achieve the best possible outcomes. I think we sometimes forget the effect we have on so many people every day of our careers. I also think that we forget that there are so many grateful patients who may just forget to say thank you.
I received the following letter last year right before Orthopaedic Nurses Day 2003, but it was too late for the September/October issue of Orthopaedic Nursing. I was touched by Emma's thoughts about her Mom, an orthopaedic nurse at Shriner's Hospital for Children in Sacramento, CA. It was too special not to let all of you read, so I put it in my "next Orthopaedic Nurse Day" file.
A Child's Thoughts About Orthopaedic Nurses
by Emma Richie
When she goes to work, she helps kids with disabilities. They all have problems with their bones, muscles or spines. Doctors do surgery on the bones and muscles. The surgery helps the children walk better, sit better, look better and helps the children have less pain. Nurses soothe and comfort children from their throbbing surgery pain. The children smile when they finally go home. They are feeling better and if they feel good enough, they sometimes smile when they go home.
To all of you heroes, Happy Orthopaedic Nurses Day!!
Orthopaedic nurses are there to care for the wounds, manage the pain, console the hearts of those who have fear, lift the spirits of the almost defeated, teach them to walk, hug them when they go home, watch the next gymnastic meet, go to weddings, and hold hands and console at death-you mean so much to the people whose lives you touch.
Little did Emma know that her sweet words would get the wheels turning in this editor's mind. It dawned on me that there are many people who, if given the opportunity, would love to say thank you to each and every one of you.
I decided to give the chance to some special people to let you know what orthopaedic nurses have meant to them. On the next couple of pages, you will see that there are some people who want to say thank you and wish you a happy Orthopaedic Nurses Day!!