Is it okay to feel like a hero?

I ask this in the health forum because i am a cna on an oncology floor in a hospital. i have taken care of those who have died, and just last night a woman that i was very much attached to died....i was there with her when things started to go wrong, i held her hand when she went to critical care....and i talked with the family when she finally passed away. at first i was afraid, angry with God...but i felt peace as i prayed and said i'd trust God anyway, well she passed and i had a sense of "i did good"....i was there for my patient, i loved on her, i held her hand in a time of need....i didn't run and hide or abandon her, i didn't coward out...and i felt good about the fact that i was like a fireman...i wasn't at all trying to take away her attention, i didn't even mention my feelings to any body....but i just want to know what you people out there think...someone who works with terminally ill patients please answer.....

thanks everyone who answered! it really hit home with the answers you gave...i didn't want to take the glory away from my lady, but i wanted to have a place for this feeling, and actually recieve it..because it didn't necessarily want to. but i somewhat knew it was okay, i just needed that extra push. I handled it and that's alright! I was a fireman! (not nowhere close but you know what i mean..)

You done good.! I am pretty sure that the people who you take care of, may not always be in a condition were they can appreciate what you are doing for them. Altruism is God's gift to you, to be selfless and care for those that are less fortunate than ourselves. I myself have witnessed death at first hand, it can be difficult to come to terms with, you say that you didn't mention your feelings to colleagues but if, as you say, "I loved on her" then be aware that you can feel a deep sense of loss, as deep as the closest of family members of your patient. So, my advice would be to have a chat with your hospital councillor, just to put your feelings into context.

Take good care of yourself.

Kevin. England.

sure it is there's nothing wrong with knowing your doing a great thing

Me-------Patting you on the back, you are a very courageous woman doing Gods work, God Bless you.

Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero and see if you think it applies to you.

you answered your own question. You list everything a person in your position should have done. you did the right thing and should feel good that you were there to help them through that time in life/death.

yes its ok 2 feel like a hero. uve done well and the appreciation u get lifts u , motivates u 2 do ur job sincerely and u love ur job more aftr incidents like this. keep it up. enjoyyyy:)

I don't work with terminally ill patients but I don't think it's a wrong feeling, if only you handle that feeling with care and do not abuse it.

Yes. You did a wonderful job because you were there for her. And you made a wonderful difference to her.

It was a hard thing to do, but you did your job and you did the right thing, honey. God Bless You.

you did something good and nice for that person ,but if you want to stay work in oncology where all the patients have;'' death penalty '' you take care of your self because you can't give a piece of your soul to every patient is dieing and you will not survive mentally in that work place
i am an MD
please believe me

OK, I think in such case you sould be confident and trust yourself and don't forget that you can't satisfy everyone in the world!.-and never forget to always trust God-.

But in general we shouldn't be ALWAYS feeling like a hero. We should be more realistic.

All nurses are Hero's, you should feel proud to have helped someone in such a sensitive way. In this day and age when most people are so wrapped up in their own petty problems it is good to hear of someone who really makes a difference.

Thank you to ALL NURSES

ya must say u are a person who has to face such a reality of life , and u have to have some faith in god too .bcoz i know it feels bad when some one passes away and u were with the person who was at the steps of death. ya and its okay to feel like an hero bcoz very few people in life have such a courage as urs to to face the people who are at the steps of death.

absolutely, you were there for her so she didn't have to die alone. that was such a wonderful thing to do for somebody. whether it was your job or not, I think you have every right to feel like a hero!