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When I Started Assuming Others Were Okay Too Soon
I learned to ask patients how they truly felt. But with colleagues and the people I care about, I stopped asking the deeper questions. It became easier to assume they were okay, even when…
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When I Felt Locked In by My Own Empathy
I entered nursing because I felt deeply. But over time, that same depth became a weight I couldn’t set down. The very thing that connected me to my patients began to cage me in…
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When “Fine” Was the Only Thing I Could Say
I got used to saying I was fine before I even knew how I felt. It wasn’t a lie—it was a reflex. In nursing, you learn quickly that honesty about how you’re doing isn’t…
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When Rest Started Making Me Anxious
Time off used to feel like relief. Now it feels like falling behind. Even on my days off, I think in charts, in alarms, in patient requests. I don’t feel rested—I feel guilty for…
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When My Care Started Feeling Transactional
It didn’t happen overnight, but I noticed it. The warmth in my voice became something I turned on, not something that just came out. I still cared—but it started feeling like a performance, measured…
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When Numb Became the Safer Option
There was a point where the empathy didn’t leave—but it stopped being safe to feel it all. I didn’t notice the shift at first. But over time, something in me began to shut the…