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He was crying. He tried to form words but he was a mess. He didn’t know if he should stay or go. He apologized for it all. For his anger, for his indecision, for his pain, for his tears.
As I talked to my patient’s husband — only one thought came through — “Oh to be loved like that…” Because Love literally poured out of the man for his wife. Along with every other emotion he owned.
I talked him down off The Ledge because that is my Super Power. I am The Nurse. We formed a plan. I got through the basics and sorted him and the patient out — she was actually coping pretty damn well. I told them I would leave my work cell on — in case they needed me tonight. Let’s be clear — I. NEVER. LEAVE. MY. WORK. CELL. ON.
Except when I do.
For the ones who really need me. Not just any nurse. But Me specifically.
In My Life — I have been all sorts of nurses. Floor Nurse, ICU Nurse, PACU Nurse, Home Health Nurse, OR Nurse, Transplant Co-ordinator — and now I’m an Oncology Nurse Navigator. I get patients and their people through the journey which is a cancer diagnosis. One way or the other.
In the past eight months since I’ve been doing this J.O.B. — I’ve come to discover a lot about myself.
The OR Nurse Persona Mask I wore for much of my career doesn’t fit so well these days. I found I am…
