today I met Nienie.

Today was an amazing day. I woke up just like any other Monday and I will admit, I was not exactly thrilled to be going to the College of Nursing Professionalism Conference. However, today I got to meet an amazing woman. Her name is Stephanie Nielson... commonly known by her blog, the Nienie Dialogues.
During her keynote address, Stephanie told us her entire story, specifically focusing on the nurses she encountered throughout her recovery. It was a touching experience. For those of you who don't know who she is... she is a burn survivor who uses the blogging world to lift and inspire others to overcome challenges in their lives. (Check out the Nienie Dialogues)

Nursing Moment: Both Stephanie and her husband were in a plane crash and sustained serious burns with many months of recovery. Stephanie’s burns covered about 83% of her body. Due to the severity of her burns, she spent over five months in the Phoenix burn unit recovering enough to be able to go home.

In the time that Stephanie spent in the hospital, she became very close with the nurses who were caring for her, to the point that they were “closer than sisters”. According to Stephanie, the nurses who had the biggest impact in her life were the ones who were the most “real”; it was those nurses who were open, completely honest, and yet still showed compassion to both her and her family who motivated her to heal and recover. When the nurses treated her as someone who was going to get better, someone who would one day have a life outside the hospital, she was able to maintain hope.

After her presentation, I knew that my life had been changed. Its hard to try and give a synopsis, but the spirit in the room was so strong. The things she said about nurses, about being a patient, about being a burn victim will forever change the way I see and interact with patients. I had a newfound desire to really try and understand my patients, to love them fully, and to get to know them on a personal level so that I can provide the best care possible. Being a nurse is so much bigger than all of the physical things like IV’s, dressing changes, and medications. In my future career, I have the opportunity to change someone’s life, to help them recover and heal when experiencing illness or disease. I have that power and it’s up to me to decide what kind of nurse I want to be.

She's an amazing woman with an amazing story. It was one of those times where you turn around and look at your own life and everything is put into perspective. I am so blessed to be who I am, to be where I am, and to have the gospel in my own life. How did I get so lucky?