Comments on: Smile please

By: uphilldowndale

uphilldowndale — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:43:52 +0000

Oh dear Stony, that sounds a bit gloomy hospitals were never meant to be fun, but….

Gerry, I suppose it is about what is appropiate for that very moment, as much as anything.

KM, no doubt the smiling assassin has continued to romp up the tree of management

By: kingmagic

kingmagic — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:03:47 +0000

One of our previous Chief Ambulance Officers (before all this new fangled stuff with Chief Executives) was known as the ‘Smiling Assassin’.

He had the unnerving ability to speak to and also mug you at the same time without you realising it!

By: Gerry Sell

Gerry Sell — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:03:18 +0000

When my mother was dying, my sisters and I took turns staying with her, holding her hand, just being with her. We were grieving so deeply . . . Late one night I opened my eyes to see a nurse on the other side of the bed, looking at me with great compassion. He had come in quietly to do what he needed to do – he had been there with me quietly – he never said one word, nor did I, and neither of us smiled a bit, but he gave me the greatest comfort I felt during those hard, hard days. You are so right – we all know the difference between hearty sham and straight-up human connection. Here’s to the nurses who manage the latter. It can’t be easy.

By: laid back runner

laid back runner — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:52:32 +0000

yes the nurses must get fed up with having to constantly make a smile, its one of the jobs where they are not really allowed an off day i suppose.

Perhaps there smiles would be more appreciated if they where paid more. We can pay a tanker driver a lot more , such a shame.

By: Stonehead

Stonehead — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:41:18 +0000

I don’t like it when nurses (or doctors) smile. It’s invariably a sign that something is seriously wrong, that they’re about to do something seriously painful, or they’re about to stick something somewhere uncomfortable. I know it’s meant to be reassuring, but it’s not.

Dentists are even worse. Big smile, then “I’m going to pull that tooth and I don’t seen any need for anaesthetic today”.

I prefer all people in medical professions to be grim and straight-faced. It’s much more dependable and appropriate.