In honor of National Nurses Week, I want to start this blog post by saying THANK YOU, thank you to all the kind, compassionate, hardworking nurses of the world. Who day in and day out help their patients, their families, and friends when times are tough. It’s an honor to work side by side with each of you, thank you to my MICU team for your constant support, going on coffee runs, covering my other patients during a code, for taking my patient to the bathroom while I scarf my food down, and teaching me teamwork.

Being an ICU nurse has taught me so much. It’s very rewarding but at times it can be emotionally draining and physically exhausting. Working in the ICU has taught me to love harder, enjoy every single day, spend time with the people I love, and take care of my body and mind. Nurses have an extremely hard job that no classroom, teacher, or clinical rotation can prepare you for.

If you know a nurse or happen to bump into one this week make sure to tell him/her thank you (or buy her some coffee)!

THANK YOU….

1. For constantly being on your feet

2. Missing major holidays and time with family to treat patients

3. For putting a strong face when in reality you want to ball your eyes out

4. Playing the roll of a social worker, waitress, NSA, therapist

5. For being on the front line of care

6. For being a rock when life-changing news is given to family

7. For working 12-hour shifts, often without breaks and still doing it with love and compassion

Thank you for witnessing heartache, pain, and death and for being strong and a shoulder to cry on for your patients and their families every time.

Xo, B!