So I started my new job at the nursing home this week. It is an unexplainable experience but I'll give it a shot. We are not supposed to compair the residents to children but they have a lot in common when it comes to caring for them. Some can feed them selves, some cannot. Some can use the restroom on their own, some with help, some not at all. It is our job to keep them clean, comfortable, and happy. It is hard work, very un-glamerous work, and even more than that it is very rewarding work. We were trying to clean a man yesterday, rolling him around and rearranging him in his bed to get the job done, and he was scared. You could see it in his eyes. He would shake all over trying to control his body himself but just couldn't physically do it. He could barely even speak. I gave him my hand to help him find comfort and a little stability and he squeezed it. The shaking stopped. He looked at me and you could tell he was lonely and scared and just needed a little kindness. Being the new girl, I have been watching everyone and everything and all too often these nurses forget what they are here for. Yes, we have to hurry to get the job done, but these are people we are caring for. They have feelings and emotions just like we do, they just have a harder time expressing it. Some of the nurses are great and really care about each and every resident but some just go about their business and handle the people like they aren't even people. They have stories and they've been in love and lost love and they have witnessed more than we could imagine in their lifetimes. One woman said she was afraid to ask us to take her to the bathroom because some of the nurses don't like it when she has to go. So someone, instead of helping this woman to the bathroom, got frustrated and aggravated at her for having to go... Really?? This little frail delicate woman was afraid to ask us to take her to the bathroom. I know we are pressed for time and have to get them to certain places by a certain time... but helping them go to the bathroom? Is that really something to huff and puff and roll your eyes about? I don't know... maybe I have too much heart for this job... but then again maybe that's exactly what the residents need.
