The best medicine for your patients is also the best medicine for you

I am a former cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) patient who underwent a profound life transformation, crediting it to the example of care I received.

Although I am not a medical expert, I have often been referred to as an expert patient because of my deeply personal perspectives, observations, research, and examples of those elements that contribute to helping improve the overall patient experience, ultimately leading to the "perfect patient result."

It began with my observations of all the little things that significantly impacted my family and I throughout my recovery. I counted and documented over 120 of these little things. Nurses create passion and re-energize patients, their loved ones, and staff. The powerful medicine, which I describe as affirmations of value, relevance, and importance, is dispensed through these little things.

Because of countless selfless nurses, my eyes, ears, and heart were opened to witnessing the blessing of the profound impact on others through the simple affirmation of value, relevance, and importance—both a gift and the most powerful medicine of all.

Nurses—you are a beacon of light that impacts lives. Your light is best seen in what you do for your patients and their families.

Here are a few examples of your light and that powerful medicine of affirmations you both dispense and receive.

• ER Nurse Barb – A nurse colleague says, "To know Barb is to see a bright shining light in the darkest days. She is always there with a smile, a hug, or even a sarcastic comment to brighten your day, especially when you need it the most. Barb goes above and beyond for anyone she meets in her work and personal life. About a year ago, Barb was diagnosed with cancer, but that did not stop her from being a shining light in the world for everyone else."

  Even the affliction of cancer does not stop Barb from doing the little things that affect her patients and colleagues by dispensing her daily affirmations of value, relevance, and importance.

• It's winter, and Betty must walk through the snow to make her appointment at the clinic. Because her snow boots are too worn, she cancels her appointment. Knowing the importance of this appointment, a nurse drove to Betty's home, picked her up, and brought her into the clinic. After the appointment, a team of nurses presented Betty with a new pair of snow boots to help her walk through the snow. Betty felt extremely valued, relevant, and important, and so did the nursing team.

• An older man is in line to pay for breakfast as he waits for his wife, who is undergoing an emergency procedure. He realizes he forgot his wallet during the rush to get his wife to the hospital. A nurse in line behind him, noticing his embarrassment, paid for his breakfast. "No one's ever done that for me," he says. He feels valued for the little thing this compassionate nurse did. In turn, his reaction of gratitude made this nurse feel valued and important. When I stand in line to pay for food, I think of what that nurse did.

The little things matter the most to your patients and to each other. As patients, all we have to do is open our eyes, ears, and hearts to experience the medicine that nurses provide. These moments create passion and re-energize anyone giving and receiving them.

By affirming the value, relevance, and importance of others, we are expressing their worth, usefulness, significance, and appropriateness, making them feel needed. As patients, nurses make us feel valued in life, motivating us to recover well and causing us to consider that perhaps we can live a better and more abundant life based on their example.

As patients, what we remember most is not what you do or say. Instead, it's how you make us feel through your daily affirmation of our value, relevance, and importance as human beings. These affirmations inspire us to give back and to do the same in our lives, causing many others to be impacted by your selfless, compassionate, caring ways.

Imagine affirming a patient by thanking them for the honor and privilege of serving and caring for them. These affirmations, the most powerful medicine, inspires and motivates your patient to return to you when they need care, tell others, and become medicine for you.

Thank you, nurses, for listening to your patients and making us feel valued, relevant, and important. Your affirmations and your examples of selfless, compassionate care transformed my life, resulting in my unrelenting passion for giving back by dispensing the same medicine of affirmation back to you.

Kevin Kirksey has lived and documented his story of profound transformation to living Life 2.0 in his book Life 2.0 – A Journey From Near Death to New Life. Kevin’s journey, including the unusual set of circumstances that led to his extended and enhanced life, has been shared with many through writing, speaking, print media, internet, and television. Kevin works with healthcare organizations on strategies to improve patient experience, which also can significantly benefit caregivers. Kevin and his family reside in Dallas, Texas, USA.