We spend most of yesterday at the hospital with Kevin.  He continues to heal while being in a great deal of pain.  The hospital he's in is a training hospital, so there are more than the usual number of folks poking heads into his room.  There are people doing medical studies, others who are med students, interns doing rounds.  And then there are the doctors and nurses.

Having spent quite a bit of time with relatives in hospitals over the past several years, I've been thinking a lot about the qualities it takes to be an excellent nurse.  First and foremost is a desire to help people get better, I suppose.  But nursing is about so much more than desire.

There are the practicalities of juggling patients.  Juggling paperwork.  Juggling priorities.  Advocating for patients with their doctors.  Advocating for doctors with patients.  Being nice to family members.  Being nice to anyone after eight hours on your feet confronting people in pain, people who are scared, people who would rather be anywhere, with anyone than in the hospital with you.

So I think selflessness is a good ingredient for a nurse.  The ability to prioritize.  The ability to be compassionate in action and in attitude.  Stamina.  The ability to shrug off the drek (real and psychic) that comes with the job.  The aplomb not to take things personally while being personable.

There are excellent nurses in every hospital on every floor.  I'd just like to take a moment this morning to salute them.  To say thanks for an impossible job, done impossibly well.

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