marcoujor: Kindness Counts

​I recently worked with eight nursing students at an area retirement community, on the Rehabilitation floor.

Despite this being these students’ first clinical experience, they picked up on the tension among staff. Scheduling issues at the start of a shift is a sad reality. There is an opportunity to ‘carry on--business as usual’ until more help arrives (or not). My intuitively kind students realized this, right out of the gate.   

Each of them gloved up and started asking the harried staff "What else can we do to help?” after escorting their assigned residents to the dining room for breakfast.

Four of the students took vital signs on all residents, sharing smiles and gaining loads of experience in the process.

I happened upon countless examples of teamwork through the morning, both with each other and the staff, to give the best care possible, especially in the areas of bathing, toileting and communicating the need for pain management to the nurses. In turn, these nurses were quick in response to those experiencing pain.

The residents were generous in their appreciation. The students appreciated learning some unforgettable life stories.

In post-conference, the subject of The Golden Rule came up; exactly what I re-discovered in these future nurses.

These students reminded me of the power of kindness.
 
Kindness does not discriminate.

We can all thrive and blossom with the slightest words, gestures of kindness from others.

From a smile to a show of concern, kindness does not have to cost a thing.

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Image via Renee Bigelow of Pixabay. Click here to visit her gallery.

​Each day is a new opportunity for us to positively impact someone else's life.

We have the power to smile, to listen and support those who are hurting in a variety of ways.

We have the ability at any time to choose kindness. Check out this inspirational video...

Ripple effects of kindness

​That best portion of a man's life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.

William Wordsworth

Kindness is from the heart

​"The Wise Woman's Stone"

"A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone." (Author Unknown)
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​Try Kindness

​We all have the capability of teaching, sharing or supporting someone in need. It's up to us to decide where we want to make a difference.

There is no magic involved. Do something that is meaningful, as often as you possibly can.

Kindness is the very least we can do.
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The Pretenders: I'll Stand By You

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​ShoutOuts

☙ Molometer ~Epic Laughs & Lessons! Via WarnerWords​

​☙ “The eagle has landed...” via flashPress

​☙ New Vlogging Camera Canon D series via Molometer

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Until next week, be kind to yourself and each other.

Hugs,

mar​