Irony

The reason I love my job, the reason it is so great, is the exact same reason it sucks.

I work in occupational health. I am the only nurse for 500+ employees. I wear the hats of mother, therapist, friend, confidant, sounding board, and nurse. I see them everyday--in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the parking lot. I get invited to their birthday parties, weddings and baby showers. I see them and care about them as PEOPLE, often friends, not just patients. And I LOVE that about my job....

Which is the reason the past couple of weeks have been difficult.

An employee came to me with left sided facial numbness that she noticed when she was getting ready for work. After examining her, I concluded that she most likely had Bell's Palsy. I called her doctor and explained my findings. The doctor concurred and called in a couple of prescriptions for her with instructions for her to make an appointment in a week. The employee went to her follow-up appointment. Just to be safe the doctor did a CT--she has Bell's Palsy AND a brain tumor (the tumor isn't causing the facial numbness because it is in a different area of the brain.)

Another employee has been struggling with a recent CABG and newly diagnosed cancer. Now he has had a massive stroke.

Some days I wish they were just patients....