There is this Job….and it is QUITE the Beautiful Mess #Nursing

There is this job that can make you do the most disgusting things in the entire world: Wipe feces from a complete strangers bottom. Catch vomit as it just pools out of the mouth of a nauseas being. Hold pressure on areas that blood is incessant in the most ungodly places. And guess what? In this job, you aren’t allowed to pick or choose how that person acts or smells, you just do it…Because you care…

There is this job that people can pretty much demand what they want, and can call to the “Hospital Gods” for backup if they don’t get it. No matter how unreasonable or how far fetched the idea or request may be, those people tend to get what they want, despite your reasoning. Because in this job, that person is always right. Even though these “wants” or disputes typically have nothing to do with their physical care, they will always be taken care of even if it makes us look like the bad guy. The line we walk with these people is a thin one. It’s hard to keep your cool when it comes to feeling disrespected.

Then there is this job that holds some of the sweetest, yet sickest people you will every meet. The kinds of people that you go to work every day for, to take care of. The people who you see mean the world to their loved ones and have impacted this world with their life on this earth in amazing ways. A job where these people graciously thank you for your care, and ask you with high hopes at the end of shift, “Will you be back tomorrow?”

This same job is where people come in almost dead, and you watch miracles happens. You watch blood flow rejuvenate. You witness paralyzed limbs regain strength and movement. You watch infection diminish. You watch humans fight for humans in many different ways. You see families come together, and their lives change completely change, both good and bad. This is a job where you witness worlds rocked. And you are there to be their solid ground in the midst of that storm.

There is this job that you hold the hands of a loved one who is at the end of a long hard battle. Their weight has disappeared and all you see on their face is the shadow where their skin is dented, resting up against bone. You know this is not that person, but that soul is longing for your care and touch. To ease their fear and pain. This job allows you to connect and care in ways that no other job can. And sometimes to care for patients on behalf of the family and support that they don’t have.

There is this job that changes your life. A job that despite the disrespectful, difficult, and crazy moments (and people), it allows you to fall in love with your craft everyday because once in a while, you experiecne the beautiful reward of human appreciation, love, and healing. And sometimes, that occasional reward has so much emotional weight that you just could never run away from what you do, no matter the hardship you face in its midst.

This job not only changes their world, but it changes yours. Every interaction. Every live saved. Every card, thank you, and act of kindness/appreciation. It all sticks with you. Every HEART that you take care of leaves a small mark on yours. You carry this “marked” heart with you everyday. This heart has made you a strong, loving and wise DIFFERENCE MAKER! These experiences have shaped it, and will continue to do so.

This job is NURSING.

THIS heart, is the heart of a NURSE!

There is no other job on earth that comes close to what we do. When I look at my fellow nurses, I see angels. I see warriors. I see teachers. I see friends. I see LOVE!

This job is my heart! Take on your week with this beautiful reflection in mind!

Your heart is mine,

Kelsey