The Human Side of the Waiting Room: Lessons Learned from Everyday Interactions
Not Just a Space to Sit Most people don’t think twice about waiting rooms. They’re just a place you sit before you’re called back. But now that I work in one—well, near one—I’ve come to see it differently. The waiting room is where a lot of the emotional energy in healthcare lives. It’s where anxiety […]
Building Trust in 15 Minutes: Connecting with Patients in Short Visits
The Clock Starts Fast In outpatient care, you learn quickly that time is tight. Each patient gets about 15 or 20 minutes, sometimes less. That time is supposed to include everything—gathering a history, doing a physical assessment, reviewing labs, adjusting medications, and addressing any concerns. But beyond all that, there’s another task that isn’t always […]
Balancing Science and Compassion: How Nursing Bridges Both Worlds
When I first decided to become a nurse, I knew it would involve a lot of science—studying anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, everything in between, and other disciplines, just for good measure. What I didn’t fully realize at the time was how deeply nursing also demands compassion, empathy, and human connection. It’s one of the few careers […]
The Power of Small Moments: Finding Meaning in Everyday Patient Care
When I first started my nursing career, I thought the most important parts would be the big interventions—the emergencies, the life-saving procedures, the dramatic recoveries. I imagined that those moments would define my work, that they would be where I made the biggest difference. But what I’ve learned over time is that the real heart […]
Science, Service, and Storytelling: Why I Chose Nursing
When people ask why I chose nursing, I never have just one answer. I usually end up telling a story, or two, because the truth is, nursing was never a sudden decision for me. It was something that slowly unfolded through the things I loved growing up—science experiments, acts of service, and the stories that […]
New Grad, Old Soul: Why Playing Cards and Visiting Museums Makes Me a Stronger Nurse
When people ask what I do to relax, I usually get a few surprised looks when I tell them I play card games with friends and visit museums—like, on purpose, for fun. I guess it sounds a little old-school, maybe even boring, especially for someone fresh out of nursing school. But the truth is, these […]
Harm Reduction in Healthcare: Lessons from Narcan Training and Public Health Initiatives
When I first got involved with harm reduction efforts, I didn’t realize how much it would shape my perspective on healthcare. As a nursing student, I had the opportunity to participate in a public health initiative that trained college students to administer Narcan, the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. At the time, I saw […]
From Anatomy TA to Bedside Nurse: How Teaching Strengthens Clinical Skills
When I first became an undergraduate teaching assistant for anatomy and physiology, I saw it as a way to reinforce my own knowledge while helping others grasp complex material. At the time, I didn’t realize how much that experience would shape my approach to nursing. Standing in front of students, breaking down intricate concepts, and […]