I cannot deny it. Getting positive feedback from the medical noosphere can lead to acute ego oedema.

Every once in a while somebody puts in that little bit extra effort to give me some feedback or let me know what they are up to that puts a spring in my step and a smile on my dial. (Not to mention scrape marks on the sides of my head sustained whilst squeezing through doorways.)
So please humour me while take a few seconds to think how great I am:

Dear Ian,
Long time reader, first time writer.

I feel that, all too often, people are quick to complain, yet reluctant to give compliments where compliments are due. So, this is basically a bit of fan mail to commend your ImpactED site.

I’m in my second year out of uni as an RN, and find that your site is an awesome source of information / inspiration – particularly the reflective practice articles. At uni, the concept of reflective practice was covered, but to be be honest, at the time, it really struck me as a load of touchy-feely irrelevance. Over the last year and a half on the ward, the articles on your site have reinforced that idea that reflection is essential for improving one’s practice – especially, I’ve found, in listening to your patients and trying to communicate with them better, and trying to picture things from their perspective – a la the article, Soak. Your article on Vertical Nursing also struck a chord – I ended up printing it out for one of our new grads, who also found it useful.

Your article on Zen & the Art of Cannulation, is fantastic. Night duty, last night, started with a semi-frantic, “Hey Jay – am I glad to see you. 31.3 is going down-hill – he needs an 18 gauge in him so he can go down for an urgent CTPA. Wardies are on their way up now.” Ward call said hello on his way out as he headed off to an arrest. Never actually had to cannulate under pressure before. I new the patient well and was acutely aware that he had shite veins. After I botched the first attempt, I remembered the idea of a Japanese tea ceremony. After I had stopped, slowed down, taken some nice slow breaths, and silently chanted “gowinyoubugger, gowinyoubugger” many times, I had the IVC in. It was a moment of firsts – first time I had inserted anything bigger than a 20G, first time inserting into the antecubital fossa, and first time having to do it under pressure. Thanks for that goes to you and your site (and I suppose Big Rob who taught me to cannulate). If I hadn’t have remembered back to Zen & the Art of Cannulation, I’m pretty certain I would have cocked the second attempt up as well.

So, thanks for producing and interesting, informative and inspirational web site. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I reckon that your site has helped improved my practice as a nurse. I also reckon the story of you in the body bag was seriously piss-funny.

Love your work.

J. (Name and hospital supplied)

Many thanks J.
OK, blowing my own trumpet like Miles Davis time is over…….back to work.