“Give me your hand,” the surgeon said to student nurse Peggy Heppner during cardiovascular surgery. As she anxiously held the patient’s heart in her palm, she felt the unforgettable power of that one beating muscle in a person’s life.
Nurses, as caregivers, are often the last people to take care of themselves. Many nurses don’t take the time to replenish themselves; skipping meal breaks, feeling pulled in many directions, yet continuing to give and give.
Vacations can be exhausting. Often I return from a vacation more tired than when I left. Yes, a change of scenery can be wonderful, but I’ve learned that time away from work does not automatically create a restful soul.