Lezli Matthews
Excerpts from Her Homecoming 2012 Address
Thirty years ago, I drove to the University Hospital, knowing I was doing the right thing. The only job available was the burn unit night shift staff nurse. I had no idea what I was starting. I interviewed, admitting no experience as a new grad, but I somehow connected with the nurse leader. She said she would train me and knew I would do well. And so it began.
With the help of my experienced instructors, my studies at BYU gave me a great foundation—organizational skills, knowledge of resources, strength, and confidence. However, I realized there was so much more once I got the basics and the routine.
Oh, I appreciate the time it takes to learn the art of nursing! You don’t always get the perfect mix of ingredients right the first or second time you try a recipe. Start with that foundation and build on it, line upon line. My knowledge of the Lord’s help in my work has intensified and become more apparent daily.
I am deeply moved by the human body’s ability to heal with the right treatments and care. I am even more driven by the strength of spirit and the growth that comes from tragedy and challenges. Through working in the burn unit, I slowly gained confidence enough to see my patients not as they now are (in a tragically injured state) but as part of a family, a part of the community, actively involved in life with all of those commitments, talents, strengths, and struggles. I started to understand the necessity of treating my patient as a person, valuable in the eyes of the Lord—just like me. What special care could I give this individual? How could I make a difference in this person’s life? How can I make it better?
A few years after becoming a nurse, I watched my mother die of cancer. Sitting with her in the hospital room, I noted everything I needed to do to be a better nurse. However, what stood out to me weren’t the tasks and physical procedures; it was the spiritual care required; it was learning the Healer’s art.
I realize most anyone can learn the tasks and cares required for the job, but to be a good nurse takes love, integrity, respect for self and others, and unconditional positive regard. When a nurse can witness severe physical pain or grief without feeling anything, perhaps it’s time to remove themselves from patient care. Being a nurse needs to be all about the patient!