What Do You See, Nurses, What Do You See

My daughter has finished her CNA classes

and passed her written tests with flying colors.

Next Tuesday she takes her skills test

which is hands on in front of the test-giver.

We have spent a few nights at the college this week

so she can practice the skills.

This room is set up just like a hospital.

The room in the back is the nurses station.

There is another room just like this on the other side

of the nurses station also.

These manikins freaked me out a bit at first.

I kept thinking I needed to show them respect or something.

(not that we were disrespectful)

I did have to move this ones foot so I could 

sit on the end of her bed. 

She practiced making beds,

brushing teeth and cleaning dentures,

putting on Ted hose.

and, of course, the lovely bed pans.

She took our blood pressures,

and temperatures.

(this is a friend of hers who wants to take the class)

I am so proud of her.

Not just for taking the class,

but for what it has taught her.

She carries out these skills with confidence and maturity.

Seeing her like this

was one of those shock and awe moments

that parents get to have.

Her teacher gave her this poem.

I was so moved by it, I wanted to share.

See Me

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?
Are you thinking, when you look at me --
A crabby old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply,
When you say in a loud voice -- "I do wish you'd try."

Who seems not to notice the things that you do,
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe,
Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill.

Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at ME...
I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still;
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who love one another,
A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet.
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet;
A bride soon at twenty -- my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep;
At twenty-five now I have young of my own,
Who need me to build a secure, happy home;
A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;
At fifty once more babies play 'round my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel --
'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where once I had a heart,
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again,
I think of the years, all too few -- gone too fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last --
So I open your eyes, nurses, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman, look closer, nurses -- see ME!

This poem was found among the possessions of an elderly lady who died in the geriatric ward of a hospital. No information is available concerning her -- who she was or when she died. Reprinted from the "Assessment and Alternatives Help Guide" prepared by the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care.


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