Nurse Awards All personal stories are told by Susan, a retired nurse. It goes without saying that pretty much every nurse deserves a reward on a daily basis, as unrealistic as it is. What is nice, however, is when there is a special ceremony to honor nurses that have made a difference in the life of a patient, or those who have done something outstanding at work to get them recognized. The RCNi Nurse Awards are the profession’s top accolade for nursing excellence. They recognize and reward nurses who have come up with new ways to improve health outcomes, enhance patient experiences and transform nursing practice. The awards provide a fantastic opportunity to share nursing initiatives, raise the profile of nursing, gain national recognition and influence nursing policy and practice. Patient’s Choice Award The Patient’s Choice Award is a special award that gives members of the public the chance to thank a nurse who has made a real difference to their or a loved one's care. Five inspirational nurses have been shortlisted from the many nominations received from patients and members of the public from across the country. Who wins this special award is now up to the patients. It’s nice to hear how a nurse has impacted a patient's life. Patients may not always say thank you, however, in most cases, they are grateful for the care they receive. Related: When to Report a Coworker Patient Nominations Larry was my nurse for 9 weeks. He holds the title of LPN, however, for me he holds the title of life saver. I was admitted to the hospital at a weight of over 700 lbs. I was unable to stand, walk, or even tend to my personal hygiene needs. It was humiliating to have other people clean me up, at 40 years of age, I had lost my independence and my ability to be a successful man. I was embarrassed, and wondered how I would make through my hospital stay. Then I met my daytime nurse, Larry. He let me know from the start that my giving up on myself was not an option. Larry reminded me multiple times a day that I had a purpose, and he was going to see to it that I fulfilled that purpose. Larry cleaned me up when I was sick, he made me stand when I was tired, he bugged me until I learned to eat a variety of vegetables, and when I was sad, depressed, and ready to give up, Larry said
no way and kept me going. I am here today, at 340 pounds, and although I still have a way to go on losing weight, I am standing here because one nurse refused to give up on me, as I had done to myself. Related: What is Oral Health Care? Hannah was my nurse when I was hospitalized for a double mastectomy. I was devastated at the thought of losing my breasts, I was sure that all happy days were behind me. Then I met Hannah. In the beginning, I thought she was being a little too light hearted, telling me if you have a hangnail you don’t leave it, you cut it off and move on. But this was no hangnail, it was my breasts. Hannah looked at me and said, yes, it is your breasts, but your breasts are not you. With or without them, you are still you. The days following surgery, I wanted to sleep and told everyone I was not up to having company. Then one day, against my wishes, Hannah opened the blinds and told me I had enough grieving time, and it was time to move on. Hannah painted my nails on her lunch hour, and came back when her shift was over to apply makeup to my very pale skin. She did my hair, then she opened my door to the visitors I’d turned away. Hannah literally forced me to see that while I was missing a body part, I was not missing the essential part, my heart and soul. So here I stand, 7 months later, and after reconstruction. Hannah reminded me why I needed to go on, and how I could go on. She helped me strengthen muscles so that I could get reconstructive surgery, and she taught me that I was special no matter what. I gave up, she didn’t. I am who I am now, because Hannah was my nurse. I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Hannah, thank you. These are just two stories from the award dinner. It’s easy to see why some people choose the profession of nursing. It is in their soul. Related: Reputable Registered Nurse Roberta Lynn Deutsch, RN, MSN, CRNI, VA-BC, will be Spotlighted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest, Twitter