Making a difference

The the need for hospitalization is established, the room is cleaned, the orders are begun, the patient settles in, receives treatment, and when stable enough is discharged. Over and over and over. It feels that we are in a constant state of flux with the focus switching to the new patient as soon as the old one is out the door. Many hurting people who are at their most helpless and neediest move into and out of our work lives. While they are with us we do what we can but we rarely hear the real results, if their lives have been helped as a result of their stay. I was pleased this week to hear some positive feedback from a parent of a former patient and a former patient herself. It seems we as a team do help people recover and renew their mental and physical health after all. I was glad for them but also it was one of those warm, fuzzy feeling for me.