Reid - Large Hearts Come in Small Packages

Reid-







There are advantages to being a dwarf. One is learning not to take anything personally. I realize patients feel vulnerable, are in pain and are undignified by being in the hospital. When they lash out, it’s not at me – it’s really at their current circumstances.

I’m four feet one inch tall. When I graduated from high school I wanted to go into nursing, but I thought I was too short. I got a bachelor’s degree in another discipline and worked for awhile as a librarian. It was not a good fit because I really wanted to help people. I liked to research and help people find information, but it wasn’t the same as helping a person heal or finding ways to make his or her day better. My sister, brother and sister-in-law are all nurses. One of our family values is reaching out and helping others.

I decided to prove to myself that, despite my size, I could be a nurse. I quickly discovered my size was not a detriment.I can either say, “Oh, this is going to be a killer.” Or I can say, “Ok, we can do this, I’m here to help.” Every nurse has to be able to jerry-rig equipment or figure out another way to do something, either because equipment doesn’t work or you can’t find the equipment you need. I’ve had to do that all my life, so it was natural for me. If I can’t reach something, I figure out a way to get it. Being different also helps me relate to patients who don’t feel they are average.

Sometimes people react when they first meet me. I’ll walk into a room and say, “Hi, I’m Reid; I’m going to be your nurse this evening.” I may get snorts and laughter, or people don’t believe me and think I’m housekeeping. By the end of the shift – they get it.

Learning nursing is a trial by fire. College provides the basics – anatomy and physiology and how to start an IV – but you can only learn how to organize your work, stand the stress, and relate to patients when you are on the floor. The real education begins when you meet your first patient. Often when people graduate from nursing school they think they know it all – and they don’t. They need to watch and learn and ask all the questions they can.

Unfortunately, my preceptor when I was in residency was not helpful. She would sit at a table and watch me drown. She would only say, “Well, you’re just going to have to learn what it’s like.” I was terrified and felt betrayed. I quickly lost respect for her and never regained it. I think she was threatened by new knowledge and fresh energy. Some nurses who have been working for 30 or 40 years are drained; they may not have much more to give. Luckily, I think those burned out and bitter nurses are in the minority. Hopefully, they save what they have left to give for their patients. Many more veteran nurses are still full of energy and love to work with new students. Fortunately, once I realized my preceptor wasn’t helpful, I found other nurses who were willing to share their knowledge with me.

I believe mentoring is mutually beneficial. Nurses fresh from school have learned new things that either I have forgotten or are new developments in the field. I listen and remain open, so they will share with me, and I enjoy sharing my experience with them. I make sure they feel comfortable, safe and trusted so they are able to learn as much as they can. I give them a chance to see how things are done, then give them the opportunity to do things, and I don’t abandon them. I love working with new nurses!

There are times my job feels routine. I don’t want to convey that to the patients, so I constantly remind myself it is not routine for them. Patients’ experiences are unique to their circumstances and may be life changing events. I know what to expect for them, but this may be their first time in the hospital. They don’t know what to expect, may be terrified, may be losing part of their body or feeling pain they never dreamed they would have to endure. It is definitely not a routine day for them.

Anytime I connect with another human being I feel I have made a difference. Nurses are therapists, plumbers, waiters and so much more. I feel respected as a nurse. When I’m charge nurse, I try to set the mood for the day. After looking at the patient load and assignments for the day, I can either say, “Oh, this is going to be a killer.” Or I can say, “Ok, we can do this, I’m here to help.”

While I enjoy being in a leadership role, I’m sure I don’t want to leave the bedside. As long as my body holds out, I want to care for patients. I’ve already had one back surgery. My surgery experience actually changed my nursing practice. It was a nightmare because I felt like a number instead of a human being. I never saw my surgeon. Residents would stand in the doorway and talk to me rather than come in to see me. I will never do that to my patients.

Once a patient left a note for me that said, “Reid, thanks for opening my milk.” It seems silly, but the woman had arthritis in her hands - bad - and nobody else helped her set up her tray or open her milk. I was with her when her tray arrived and I said, “Here, can I help you? Can I open your milk for you?” It was just a tiny thing, but hers is one note I’ll keep forever.

Power Strategies: Courage, Determination, Positivism
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