I was in dire need of sleep, but I was hungry, and my stomach was growling so loudly I was afraid it would keep me awake. I stopped to pick up some Chinese food.
A man dressed in work boots, jeans and a flannel shirt was standing in the restaurant waiting for his food and noticed I was wearing scrubs. He saw me and made a face like he had seen something repulsive. “I didn’t think you medical types worked on Saturdays.” I replied that health care was a 24-hour/365-days-a-year kind of job, but I was really thinking Of course nurses work on Saturdays!
He said, “Oh, you want overtime so you can buy more stuff. You must get double time on a Saturday.”
I said that I was more interested in sleep than the money.
Clearly trying yet again to rile me, he asked, “Didn’t anyone ever teach you that there are things more important in life than money?”
Normally I would just smile and walk away, but I couldn’t help myself. “I’ve been awake and working the last 32 hours because I work in organ donation. I worked all night to help save a seven-year-old girl’s life. I didn’t do it for the money. Organ donation teaches you that money doesn’t mean much.”
His demeanor instantly changed. With a big grin, he said, “Oh, you’re an angel!”
I said no, I was just a nurse who happened to work in organ donation.
“No,” he said, “you’re an angel. I got my new kidney two years ago.”
I walked away with a smile on my face and a much-needed reminder of why I do what I do…all because I was wearing scrubs.
Contributed by Jennifer Heisler, RN
When we discuss students, we always mention their qualities. Those qualities show what they are…
If you or someone you know is juggling mental health issues alongside substance abuse, understanding…
For the last couple of weeks, the Israel-Hamas conflict has taken over the news cycle.…
Our eyes are invaluable, serving as our windows to the world. The ability to see…
Undoubtedly, one of the most demanding and challenging professions is nursing. Nurses work long hours in…
Echocardiography, or echo for short, is a key diagnostic test used by cardiologists to assess…