Made of Gold and Steel

ER nurses are a rare breed, its not a easy to understand breed necessarily either. We come with at times, terribly tough exteriors. We've grown hard on the outside because its necessary, its essential to our own survival - what we see come crashing through our doors has the power to break us physically but more importantly, more critically - it can tear us up mentally...and so we learn our ways to wall up, to stay safe, for our own protection and for yours.

And yet, underneath that exterior, those facades of brick and at times titanium, you'll find some of the most amazing examples of human compassion you will ever see.

Its nurse appreciation week.

At this moment a friend of mine, one of the most amazingly compassionate nurses i know lies intubated in the micu 3 floors above our ER. We held her hand as we tubed her, we took her badge and her belongings and we wheeled her together to the icu and we hold silent vigil waiting for the day she'll walk out, we know she'll walk out, she has to, she's one of us, she's a fighter, she's tenacious, she's life and spirit and well - she has to. This week, as we celebrate, we together here, worry, and we remember what it takes within all of us to be what we are. It has been demonstrated so clearly within these halls. I love my friends, i stand humbly in deep admiration and gratitude to those i work with and i pray that she'll be back among us soon in all her cynicism and sarcasm.

Hug a nurse this week.