I think things have changed a lot since I trained as a Nurses' Aid at 18 years old, then on to be an EMT a few years later. Then, the first person to care for and see the patient the most was the NA. We were responsible for a lot of things, including blood pressures, temps, bedpans, measurements of input and output, etc, etc, backrubs and more. We were trained in hospital by a superb nurse and in general, although we ran our legs off, we always had a bit of time for each patient to visit with them, hold their hand, etc.

Long before hospice days and any formal training or, even knowledge of how to help people with transition, I worked on the terminal/holding ward. Some of the people who were dying from cancer, heart disease, etc; others were slowly recovering. A lot of them were very scared and lonely.

I was fortunate enough to be assigned to an older charge nurse. Tiny, gray-haired, like a little bird, tough as nails, Miss Buck. One night she was giving us our assignments, I had about 10 patients, including a very wealthy, very scared woman recovering from heart problems, in a private room all alone. Miss Buck called us all back before we went to start our duties, reassigned all of my people but the wealthy woman to the other aides, then told me she wanted me to spend the evening with Mrs. X, holding her hand, listening, reading to her, etc., in short I was to give her comfort.

I will never forget the very valuable lesson I learned that night in caring for that woman and the wisdom of Miss Buck's decision. Eventually Mrs. X, who'd had no desire to live, became better and left the hospital. I am convinced it was due in large part to the extra effort we all made to let her know someone cared.

Mark, take care and get better!

katlaughing