My Grandma: A Nurse's Week Tribute
Nurses Week has me thinking about those whom I work with and why I became a nurse in the first place.
Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a nurse.
I've always been compassionate and empathetic and nursing was a good fit.
However, it was my Grandma Bobs that inspired me to make my dream a reality.
Grandma Bobs worked at our small local hospital growing up doing mostly the evening shift.
I remember her talking about the perks of that shift, not the least of which was popcorn.
For whatever reason working the off-shifts in a hospital make you yearn for popcorn.
And here I am, 400 miles away from my hometown and that rural hospital, finding myself munching on popcorn in my scrubs in the middle of a night shift (made on our theater-sized popcorn maker at work).
Whenever a newborn baby made his or her appearance at church on Sunday, Grandma Bobs would beeline it for the baby.
Sometimes she would even beat me there. :)
Over and over again in my growing up years I heard stories about Grandma from new moms.
How she gave them a back massage every night before they went to bed for the night.
Details of the beautiful afghan she had made for them and sent home with the newborn.
Care and concern, competence and skills.
It all made me want nothing more than to leave that kind of legacy, one my children and grandchildren will be inspired by.
Until high school I was pretty sure I'd get my nursing license and return to Roseau to practice.
Then I got wind of a specialty unit taking care of babies called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
I knew it would be just the thing for me.
My senior year in nursing school I scored an internship at Minneapolis Children's in the NICU.
My first experience with itty bitty babies and sick big babies had me hooked.
It was my place to give of the gifts God had given me.
And while I can't make afghans, I'm praying that the families who's precious babes I have cared for will feel I have left them with something they will never forget.
Care and concern, competence and skills, just like Grandma Bobs.
Grandma joined her heavenly Father before I became an RN but I know she was proud to have a grandchild follow in her footsteps.
And it seems my work is apparent to my oldest child who made this sweet little card for mother's day...check out the question and answer 7 rows down. :)
Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a nurse.
I've always been compassionate and empathetic and nursing was a good fit.
However, it was my Grandma Bobs that inspired me to make my dream a reality.
Grandma Bobs worked at our small local hospital growing up doing mostly the evening shift.
I remember her talking about the perks of that shift, not the least of which was popcorn.
For whatever reason working the off-shifts in a hospital make you yearn for popcorn.
And here I am, 400 miles away from my hometown and that rural hospital, finding myself munching on popcorn in my scrubs in the middle of a night shift (made on our theater-sized popcorn maker at work).
Whenever a newborn baby made his or her appearance at church on Sunday, Grandma Bobs would beeline it for the baby.
Sometimes she would even beat me there. :)
Over and over again in my growing up years I heard stories about Grandma from new moms.
How she gave them a back massage every night before they went to bed for the night.
Details of the beautiful afghan she had made for them and sent home with the newborn.
Care and concern, competence and skills.
It all made me want nothing more than to leave that kind of legacy, one my children and grandchildren will be inspired by.
Until high school I was pretty sure I'd get my nursing license and return to Roseau to practice.
Then I got wind of a specialty unit taking care of babies called the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
I knew it would be just the thing for me.
My senior year in nursing school I scored an internship at Minneapolis Children's in the NICU.
My first experience with itty bitty babies and sick big babies had me hooked.
It was my place to give of the gifts God had given me.
And while I can't make afghans, I'm praying that the families who's precious babes I have cared for will feel I have left them with something they will never forget.
Care and concern, competence and skills, just like Grandma Bobs.
Grandma joined her heavenly Father before I became an RN but I know she was proud to have a grandchild follow in her footsteps.
And it seems my work is apparent to my oldest child who made this sweet little card for mother's day...check out the question and answer 7 rows down. :)
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