Perspectives

Worth the Tears

Emily Bowers

caregiving, compassion fatigue, oncology nursing
CJON 2017, 21(3), 285-285. DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.285

I walk into work thinking about her. The last time I walked through these doors, I wondered if I would ever see her again. Today, I wondered if she would be there when I walked through the halls. As I start my day, I begin to inquire about her. Is she still here? Is she still alive? How is she? They tell me she is still here, in body, but she’s really gone. Any minute could be her last. I go about my busy day, tending to my patients and their needs. She begins to slip from my mind in the craziness of the day. Later in the day, someone comes to find me and says, “She’s yours to take care of until the end of your shift.” I slowly walk down the hallway, dreading what I will see.

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