I Think Sometimes You Are In The Place You Are Supposed To Be.

I have been a nurse for almost 26 years now and have worked the same unit for 16 of those 26 years and have seen huge changes in the medical field some good some not. On occation if our unit is slow and another is busy we have to float as a helping pair of hands to do tasks such as baths vital signs etc.. Floating for me is uncomfortable. I like to think I am competent and good at what I do but when you float you loose that feeling the meds are different the physicians are different the diagnosis are different. Treatment options have changed dramatically over the years so what we did 20 years ago has certainly changed. So I have to ask questions about most everything. Even where the linen is kept. You feel just plain stupid. I don't look forward to it. But I realized the other day you are where you are supposed to be. While I did my assigned accuchecks I had time to talk with the people just listen to them. I met the 90 year old who was a war bride whose husband came back for her just like he promised. The 49 year old who had only 15 percent of her heart function left " though bad choices I made when I was young" but wanted just time to spend with her daughters now. The women who had lost her husband of 53 years almost to the day and carried the bible " last gift he gave her" with her. She still missed him dearly. The stories go on and on. They needed to just talk. I listened to each of them. They didn't want pity just time and company. We for get how important that is . I was reminded how precious our lives and health are. How important family and friends are We forget to appreciate them. We also forget to listen. We get busy, there's no crime in that. But it's good to be reminded that life is good. Enjoy what you have. And just share your time.