Making Sense of Nursing

The senses of a nurse are many.
They are used to help, heal, comfort and console.

The healing "touch" we strive so hard to find initially soon becomes second 
nature.
The ability to relieve pain, even if we have to cause a little in the beginning.
The constricted tightness of pedal edema determined with a single finger.
The quick heel tap upon a newborn babe that brings forth a quick, sharp cry.
The ability to discern the pulse of life, yes or no?

A nurse will see many thing through her career, some good, some not.
The yellowed skin of jaundice, a raging case of cellulitis, the cyanotic lips and 
nails of a lunger, or the tears streaming down the cheeks of loved ones as the 
final breath is drawn.

A nurse's ear is tuned to many things, some, all at once.
The rush of life giving air into the lungs, the bowels as they awaken after surgery, 
the constant blip of the weak heart in the ICU, silent words not spoken by a 
stroke victim, or the prayers, both silent and spoken of a grieving widow.

The nose of a nurse knows many scents.
From the fetid pungency of the neglected suppurative wound, the distinctive odor 
of a UTI, G.I. bleed, and C-Diff, to the freshly powdered neonate, that brings forth 
the mental images of our own children, the fresh bacon in the cafeteria after a 
long hard night and the deliciously seductive scent of fresh coffee at all hours of 
the day.

Lastly, the innate sense of a nurse that she learned to listen to early on, whether 
it be a deafening roar or a feeble whisper in her soul, she listens to them both 
innately, and acts upon them, sometimes, not knowing why, unable to explain.

The senses of a nurse are strong, nurtured and developed as an extension of 
her being.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2005



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter