they died, they left

on mass today, one of the petitions was for health care providers to have passion in caring for the sick.

earlier today, i argued with a patients son about a certain administration of medications which he questioned the validity of the order, his dad almost died.

later this week, i overheard that a few colleagues are bound for the middle east.

just like everything in life, the health care profession is a series of coming and leaving. we care for a patient and eventually we set them free either to be discharged or to be buried. the turn over of nurses are like students from vocational courses, they stay for a good six months then they leave. as i was discussing this to a fellow nurse i cant help but wonder. why is she able to talk about things like this casually. it seems like while we talked about dying patients and co-workers leaving, she is devoid of emotions. is it because she had seen far more dying and leaving than me? is it because all the ten years spent in her career being died upon and being left behind became natural? will i be like her 6 8 10 years from now? no wonder our profession is one of those of jobs that gets to be singled out and included of mass petitions. we do need prayers. as much caring for patients fills our soul it also creates a blackhole, a blackhole for all the deaths, passing and leaving.