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Medical
Center Hospital’s Annamarie Jones, RN, was selected as the
national winner of the Spirit of Nursing contest entitled “What the
Spirit of Nursing Means to Me”. In June, Annamarie will attend the
National Spirit of Women Conference to be held in Napa Valley,
California where she will be honored at the awards banquet.
Annamarie was also selected as the local winner during National Nurses’
Week 2007. Other local MCH entries in the “What the Spirit of Nursing
Means to Me” contest were: Patty Chapman, RN, MSN; Donna Holman, LVN;
Kendra Skalenda, RN; Martha Ortiz, RN, BSN; and Janice Turner, LVN.
National Winning Essay for the Spirit of Nursing contest entitled “What
the Spirit of Nursing Means to Me”
What
the Spirit of Nursing Means to Me
Annamarie Jones, RN, CCRN, CLNC - Nursing Administration
Hope. Love. Compassion. Peace. Patience. Dignity. These are words that I
associate with nursing. Not because of what I do as a nurse, but because
of what my patients have done for me.
During their most trying times, patients have given me hope. In their
times of suffering or discomfort, they have displayed hope through
staunch belief in their faith, doctors, nurses and all those who care
for them. This tangible display of hope gives me hope.
During their most trying times, patients have given me love. In spite of
their
pain, be it physical or emotional, they honor me with kindness and
appreciation. This tangible display of love allows me to love.
During their most trying times, patients have given me peace. In their
times of suffering or discomfort, they are encouraging me with words
such as “thank you for helping me”. In spite of their physical
discomfort, they maintain a quiet dignity. This tangible display of
peace gives my heart peace.
During their most trying times, patients have given me patience. In
their times of suffering and discomfort, they display a calm during many
time consuming and confusing procedures. In spite of their loss of
control, they display trust, trust in me and all those caring for them.
This tangible display of patience, gives me patience.
During their most trying times, patients have given me dignity. In their
times of suffering and discomfort, they present themselves with dignity
and grace. In spite of the total surrender of their bodies to others,
they display the sanctity of the human spirit.
This tangible display of dignity, gives me dignity.
All that I am as a nurse, I owe to my patients. They have nurtured me,
educated me, supported me, disciplined me, encouraged me, wounded me and
healed me. Through nursing, I have grown as a person. I have learned to
appreciate people for one simple reason, we are all of one family. We
all cry, laugh, hurt, mourn, live and die.
What does the spirit of nursing mean to me? It is a lesson in humanity.
Simply, it is life.
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