cc nurse

Crappy sleep

Because I never learn

That my middle-aged body 

Doesn’t get to do whatever it likes. 

Or once liked when I was like 20 or 30. 

Took a little walk today. 

Getting back to normal. 

A new normal. 

Drinking snake juice makes me 

not the least bit hungry all day. 

So I’m a Hospice Nurse. 

I am the one who sits 

at the bedside of the dying person. 

It’s truly end of life work. 

It’s very quiet and calm work. 

I give the meds like morphine. 

And other opiates. 

I provide comfort as people transition 

To death. 

I make sure they are clean and dry and safe

And are not anxious or in pain. 

This is what I do. 

Most people don’t get better. 

Everyone dies-  many on my shift. 

They asked to be on Hospice. 

The families are ready for when they pass 

For the most part. 

The hospice team helps with that. 

And most of my patients are 

not awake when I meet them. 

My best boss put it this way:

You are assigned a patient. 

You go to their home. 

You knock on the door,

And meet the family,

You have about 8 seconds

To get them to like you 

While you take them through 

The worst days 

They’re ever going to have. 

It’s really the best kind of Nursing;

It’s gentle and nurturing.