for granted

*I love my job 8 days out of 10.

That says a lot. I know so many people who just do to their job in order to pay bills but don't find any sense of worth or satisfaction or challenge from their job.

*I love sitting with a newly diagnosed patient and holding their hand as we explain what treatment will look like.

*I love the challenge/adrenaline rush when we have a severely neutropenic admission and how fast I can help get them stable.

*I love watching the kids play in the hospital playroom where they seem to forget they are sick (for a little while).

*I love walking a patient down to the cafeteria to pick out lunch when the hospital tray seems too gross to try.

*I love rewarding their courage after port accesses with a trip to the toy closet.

*I love the specialties of hematology and oncology and all the interesting genetics, trials, chemotherapy, and transfusions that coincide.

*And, I also love the team I work with... for 12 hours at a time!

We nurses know how to be catty and cliquey (imagine that!) but I don't see that with my team.

It makes a world of a difference to have people around that you can laugh with, who bring yummy snacks, who take the day as it comes- whatever that may be, and most of all who you trust to be by your side.

Well, our team is going through a lot of changes right now and my stomach has been uneasy all day.

I realize I took for granted how much I love what I do until it became reality that it won't be the same anymore. And if I don't get to keep taking care of my sweet, brave baldies, the tears will be flowing from this nurse.