The most important word in the human language...

When I was in college I was asked what I thought the most important word in the human language was. I was slightly caught off guard  by the question and so I stuttered a little something like "umm thanks...or maybe love...or maybe happiness...is this a trick question?" The guy who asked me told me that the most important word in the human language is a person's name.

I had never thought of that before, but it really is true. People respond so differently to you when you know their names and when you use their names when you are talking to them. Using a person's name changes a  "Hey how was your day" inquiry into something that really matters and that person feels like you really do care.

This theory not only works with adults but it works with little kids too.

There was a first grader who came into the nurses office, who I had seen before, but I couldn't remember his name. As part of record keeping we have to document each students name, their grade and why they came into the nurses office. As I was starting to write down his information I asked him what his name was. He looked up with a hurt look in his eyes and said,

"You don't remember??"

Talk about ripping my heart out.       
                                                 

I have made it my goal to make a particular effort to remember names of the people that I meet and then to use their names when I talk to them. It is hard sometimes, but the reaction to a remembered name is so much better than the horrible feelings that come from the reaction of  a forgotten name.

Everyone has talents...

I have always kind of doubted myself and my decision to become a nurse. After I got my degree I wasn't 100% sure that nursing was really what I was supposed to do with my life. The thought that I should have majored in something else often creeps into my mind, but I try to squish it as quickly as possible because I know that nursing is something that I should be doing and I really am grateful for it. There was a little boy who came in and helped reaffirm the fact that nursing was for me. He came in quite a bit at the beginning of the school year and I couldn't help but make him a "favorite" of mine.

He came into the office with a nose bleed and it just did not want to stop. I was holding tissues on his nose and ice on his neck and then I would have him hold the tissues and I would hold ice on his neck and his nose. In the middle of the holding of ice/tissues and the small talk to make it seem like I wasn't freaking out (it was A LOT of blood) he started asking me about whether or not I was a "real" nurse and if I went to school for it. He also told me that I was the nicest nurse that he had ever met.

The real kicker (probably the reason I like him so incredibly much) is that he said that he was soo glad that I was a nurse and he was glad that I had gone to school for nursing because I have a gift for kindness and a great ability to help people who need help. He told me that he could just tell that this was the best thing for me to do. He said that everyone has talents, but not many people are able to really use thier talents in thier jobs, but I was totally using my talents.

His nose stopped bleeding shortly after that and he said bye and headed off to class, but I pondered a lot on what he said. It is true that everyone has talents and it is such a blessing to be able to be in a profession where I can really use the talents that I have been blessed with to help the lives of others. That little boy helped me remember that I actually really enjoy nursing, especially the helping others part of nursing. It was a good reminder that I am in the right place at this time in my life. Reminders like that are wonderful!

"Cuz you look like..."

Often times when kids come to the nurses office during school they are really just looking for  a way to get out of class for a while. What does this mean? Most of the time I simply let them sit in the office for a couple of minutes and then send them back to class. While they are sitting there they sometimes like to have little conversations with me. The following was a conversation that happened on my second day of school.

Third grader, "So how long have you worked here."

Me, "Two days. I started when school started."

Third grader, "Oh that's cool...You wanna be my friend?"

Me, "Um, sure. That sounds ok to me."

Thrid grader, "Awesome. All you have to do is remember my name ok?"

Me, "Alright. I can do that."

(Silence as I start typing something in the computer)

Third grader, "Excuse me."

Me, "Yes?"

Third grader, "How old are you?"

Me (as I turn and look at the student who had the audacity to ask my real age), "Why?"

Third grader, "Cuz you look like you are 16."

I was flattered by her "compliment." I laughed and told her my age and she just responded with oh. Kids really know how to make your day, although I do remember when I was 16 and people would ask me if I was 22. It seems that my looks are digressing, but that is a good thing right?
The youngest picture I have of myself at the moment.
I am on the right and I am 17 (I think).

                                                                                 22nd birthday. Don't I look younger ;)