» Nurses’ Eyes
By Victor Uriz at 11:10 am
I’m something of a bouncer security guard and a maître d’ all rolled up in one. I’m the guy at the door who quietly attends to the behind the scenes issues. I am not sure why I have been selected, chosen or relegated to this special detail. Could it be my cat-like reflexes, my commanding presence or maybe it’s the stealthy coolness that I exude. I think it’s probably the latter. I am there, but not there, like the chicken broth in the spicy Gumbo or the hint of orange rind in your hefeweizen. I am the consummate chameleon, as innocuous as a placebo. My alias code name is Q-T (The Q and T spoken in quick secession, pronounced cutie).
My most recent assignment was a pretty sweet gig. I was the steward for the New Grad Dinner/Ceremony at the Riva Grill——Nice! Nancy Ressler was my handler and she made the major arrangements for the event, but I would be the on the scene point person to thwart any mishaps or “deal” with any “subversive events”. I worked the door and quietly slinked around making sure that things went as scheduled. I was given the unenviable task of pinning corsages on the New Grads. This is a tricky ordeal for someone who lacks the steady hands of a surgeon and does not possess the pin point accuracy of a phlebotomist. I steadied myself, bit my lip as I held my breath and deftly threaded the needle through the clothing and flower stem; a trickle of sweat tickled as it rolled down my rib cage.
There were magnificent speeches and presentations by the mangers. Mary Bittner spoke with passion about the sacrifices and rewards of being a Registered Nurse. There were words of congratulations for their “stick to it-ness”, words of appreciation for contributing to the team, words of acknowledgment for their refreshing enthusiasm. I could see the pride reflected in the managers and Mary’s eyes. They have those “nurse eyes”. Eyes that listen, are attentive, sharp and observant; kind. These individuals have been nurses for many decades (ah-hum, as they all started when they were really, really young) and although much of the practices and procedures have evolved over the years, the things that make a nurse a “nurse” still remains the same. The core values of caring, giving, respecting, serving and healing still prevail.
Nursing is different than most professions. Nursing is not a career choice so much as a calling. You can’t fake nursing. You can’t call it in, or show up and be half way into it or just-sort-of be there for the patient. Everyone will know it; most importantly the patient will sense it immediately. The history and traditions of nursing is rich with stories of individuals who gave of themselves to aid and comfort others in need. This involves everything from performing intricate life saving procedures to helping someone fluff their pillow.
Somewhere along the way we are all are touched by nurses. From the cradle to the grave they are there helping us through the transitions in our lives. If life is one big circle or a wheel, then nurses are the spokes that help make the ride a little softer, a wee bit smoother.
The dinner was great and the conversation stimulating. Everyone received their certificates and for posterity photos were taken. An old photograph can suddenly throw you back in time and capture the emotion of that exact moment. I wondered if any of the managers have old black and white or kodachrome photos of their graduating class. A yellowed photo of a tightly bunched group of students decked out in starched white outfits, topped off with those old school nursing hats. I could imagine those “nursing eyes” peering out at the world with idealistic wonder. As I said earlier, some things in nursing never change. I finished up with my final responsibilities and like a specter slipped out the back door and into the cover of night. Mission accomplished. (More jazz sax riffs spill out into the darkness as a blue neon sign flickers into the foggy night). Boo-ba dee-bah doo-be doooooo!
Comments may be directed to Victor Uriz at vuriz@bartonhealth.org.