This one’s for me, not you. But you can read it, too.
The weight of the world feels more like a blanket than a boulder today.
What a relief!
I’m finding myself trying to explain away why the weight feels lighter today. Writing, caffeinating, moving, breathing? Overanalyzing, sure.
I’m riding high on a wave of a great day.
I’ve been a nurse for 13 years this month. Wow. How the HECK is my nursing career a teenager??! I’ve worn a few different hats in my career, and though I’ve enjoyed most of them (no job is perfect or they wouldn’t pay us to do it), I’m grateful to notice the balance.
My official title is a mouthful, but I get to do a mix of the following:
Welcoming new team members on their first day (I say team members because it’s not just nurses, and I don’t want to be exclusive)
Teaching orientation classes (virtually and in-person)
Creating education content for new and existing team members
Joining nurses in the field for joint visits in patient homes
Collaborating with a highly engaged group of educators
Meetings with others within my division and across our health system
etc. etc. etc. (and duties as assigned)
I’m sure I’ll look back at that list in the future and think: you idiot, you forgot XYZ, they’re going to think you do nothing ALL DAY.
I’ve never experienced time fly by as fast as it has in this role. It’s already been a year and it’s been like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. I’ve gotten a few good sips, but holy smokes there is a TON of content. And it’s been pedal-to-the-metal since I started.
My daily work is a lovely mix of in-person and virtual work. I enjoy the dance between the two.
More than anything, the time I spend collaborating with people on how to make home health better is my jam. And today… today was like a chorus of voices singing about how healthcare is going to get there. (Let’s overanalyze: maybe it was the caffeine. Or the highly engaged group of individuals. Or the atomic view I’ve had on my mind — the future compost around me — that’s given me some perspective on the trivial nature of my problems and worries.). How about — it was a good day, and I can have those sometimes.
I got to be on a meeting in which my teammates defended our field staff and their managers’ time. And were unwavering. Steadfast. I saw their moral compasses shining. And ours were all pointed in the same direction. Do what’s best for the patient, but not at the expense of the wellbeing of our nurses, therapists, aides, social workers, chaplains, managers… whomever. You can’t put the patient first if there’s nobody left to care for them.
Like I said: This is for me, not you. But since you read it, too, I hope your today was brighter than yesterday. My battery is drained. Goodnight!