Happy Thanksgiving!
As home health nurses, it seems a shame just to have one day a year to celebrate being thankful. But before we all turn our attention to family and friends, I want to take a minute to share all that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving in the world of nursing.
I am grateful in an odd sort of way that I have a touch of a cold or something. Even though it is inconvenient and is slowing me down, it reminds me how many of patients feel. We can’t do this job without a little empathy.
I am grateful for the Federal Government without whom I would not have a job. We may call ourselves nurses and consultants but all of us are just glorified government employees being that most of home health revenue comes from Medicare and Medicaid. I just wish we had all those holidays. But OASIS-C training pays well and I am not complaining.
I am grateful for home health care aides. They not only leave our patients clean and fed, but they leave patients with dignity after cleaning up after them.
I am grateful for all the state, federal, local and JCAHO regulations. It seems that every move that a nurse makes is regulated by some governing body. This takes the burden of thinking away from the nurses and I am sure they have better things to think about.
I am grateful to the patients who welcome us into their homes and their lives. I am sure there are many nice nurses in the GI lab but not many people hold a warm place in their hearts for the colonoscopy nurse.
I am grateful for the clients who don’t know everything. I am not so grateful for the clients who don’t want to know anything.
I love coders. They are like fellow puzzle solvers and take away a serious burden from the nurses. Patients get better care because of coders.
I am so very grateful to my coworkers. Haydel Consulting Services may not be IBM or Microsoft but without my coworkers it would be nothing.
Finally, I am so proud and so grateful to call home health nurses my colleagues. I am proud when I tell people what I do. I enjoy teaching workshops and bragging on my clients or other nurses who have come up with creative ways to take care of patients. I love the laughter that y’all share. I am honored when you share the harder parts of being a nurse with us.
And that makes it a good day to be a nurse. Thanks to everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful for every experience good and bad in 2009. Happy Thanksgiving
Julianne–Thank you for such sweet sentiments this Thanksgiving. I always take the time to read what you have to say because I know that I will be either entertained or gain more insight into the world of home health. We are so very thankful to have you as one of our peers.
I am thankful for supervising the most energetic and eager to learn team of nursing referral coordinators. I am thankful for leadership that provides us with the great softwear tools to do our jobs and Coding books that enable us to do great work. I am thankful for a profession I have loved for 42+ years (nursing) and for the adventure in coding and most of all for family and friends who always support my energetic adventures. And last but not least for all the coders and OASIS folks who support staff and fellow coders. Happy Thanksgiving.
Julianne,
happy Thanks Giving to you to my dear. You are so wonderful and help us a lot by sharing your knowledge and experiences. W
Have a wonderful thanksgiving and Happy Holidays.
Pallavi
Well written, Julianne! There are many blessings for which to be thankful, one of which is our awesome listserve friends! Happy, Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Julianne – what a wonderful job of writing. I always enjoy reading what you have written. It is either thought provoking, entertaining or informative. Don’t ever stop. I’m glad to have you as a peer. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the Christmas season as it approaches.