I started working as a nurse again last June. It has been almost 12 weeks of learning so far.

Going back to working full time is not for the faint of heart. It has been stressful and exhausting. I have learned so many things. One of the most important being how much I love the people I am helping. The patients. They are what make my day sparkle.

The days I have conversations with women my age about things we are both going through are absolute bliss. It is a rural health clinic where we are open Monday through Friday and see patients with non-life threatening issues. Only once have we had to call an ambulance to transport a patient off to the Emergency Room.

I have forgotten how much I enjoy meeting new people. I love hearing their stories. I try to help them out by just being a listening entity.

One patient had just lost a close relative. In tears, she told me I was the first person she had talked to about it. She said she didn’t have anyone else to talk to. She was really hurting. I felt so sorry for her. I realized that I had an important job to listen to her. I also had to have a caring word to say.

Some patients are angry. They also want to be heard. They are angry about their situation, their pain, their lot in life. They also deserve to be heard.

Then there are the sweet lovely people whom are a joy to care for and help. Some of the most incredibly lovely ones have been new mama’s. They come into clinic with their new babies. They are literally oozing with the new mama aura of life and love. They are also filled with exhaustion, hormones, and birth.

A new older generation of patients I have also warms my heart. Some of the incredibly classy and gentlemanly amongst us who are mostly ignored. These older gent’s in their 90’s are struggling to retain a bit of who they used to be. I have fallen head over heels in love with a man who is 94. He has so many stories and looks one in the eye when he talks. What wisdom he has! I look forward to talking with him. He doesn’t want to be a bother and downplays any issue he might be experiencing. He still carries himself tall and cordially , but with care now.

I certainly have become a better person because of my work at the clinic. Some days are hectic, while other days are a walk in the park. I’m sure though, that I am the one who is gaining so much through this experience.