When we're busy, we don't eat. We might squeeze in a smoothie/coffee/tea break while charting and still get up when we're called. If we're about to faint, shake because of low sugar or couldn't concentrate any longer, we beg for a few minutes to buy something and eat it on the way or sit for 15 minutes. We push for our patients to eat healthy but we settle for chocolates, candies and cookies brought by families as our source of sustenance. That's how it is.
Bathroom breaks escape us sometimes. If we try to go and there is someone in the washroom, we might end up waiting for hours to have another chance. We get worried when our patients are not able to pee after 4 hours. Meanwhile, there are days I've gone through the day without a bathroom break - that's more than 12 hours if anyone is counting. That's how it is.
When we're tired, we laugh. We start laughing at silly things like thinking that someone said that the patient's last name is "Sulong" instead of "so long". We start making weird sounds, humming out loud or just plain giggling for no apparent reason. We have to believe that laughter is the best medicine, at least on ourselves. That's how it is.
It's Nursing Week soon and we all need a pat on our shoulders. Some of us may choose to wear a temporary tattoo of "Super RN" on our cheeks or arm for the fun of it - courtesy of management. Some of us will probably just be like Clark Kent, wear our normal clothes but still remain to have super human powers. We all have our moments and we all have flaws. When may vent, call-in sick or give away our shift, trust me on this - we need it. That's really how it is.
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