On-Call.

This weekend went by WAY too fast for me. I can’t believe it’s already Tuesday.

I think the main reason is due to the fact that I was on-call in the O.R. this past Saturday. Normally, I’m used to being off on the weekends, but due to a busy surgery schedule at the hospital, I was called in.

Honestly, I didn’t mind so much. Yes, it was short-notice & a last minute thing, since I literally clocked into work 20 minutes after I had woken up. Ergo, I woke up, took a really fast shower after listening to my voicemail, & got to work. I had a very slight headache since it all happened so fast & I didn’t have much time to do anything.

But I still was glad to have worked a few extra hours & made some extra money. Last week was just busy at work for me. But within that week, I met patients that, I believe, made me become more empathetic & compassionate.

I’ve always been that way, especially when working with patients that are enduring some of the worst illnesses & have undergone some painful surgery. In the field that I’m getting into & at the type of health & medical facilities like the hospital I work at, you really must have some kind of compassion for the people you care for.

Unfortunately, I’ve met so many that have lacked this quality. That’s one thing I DO NOT understand. I realize that at times, our patience for others gets kind of worn down & we get frustrated & tired. However, for those that work in healing others, there must be some ounce of compassion.

My philosophy is as follows:

Passion for medicine & healing. Compassion for those being healed.

Whether or not some agree, showing others patience, kindness, & compassion rapidly speeds up the healing process. Why? Because when they see & feel that the ones taking care of them are working their absolute hardest to heal them while at the same time treating them with love & respect, they fight & don’t lose hope.

And that, my friends, is EXACTLY the type of message you want to give them: DON’T LOSE HOPE.

Being called in this weekend was sudden, rushed, unexpected…but great.

Last week itself was awesome. With everything going on in my life, I feel that the numerous patients I meet & care for help me discover more & more about myself & because of that, I continue to grow as a person. The gratitude they show because of my compassion inspires me.

So, if I were to give advice for you today, it would be to show the people around you compassion. Sometimes, the smallest ounce of compassion can go a long way…it gives others hope…

…& it could even save a life.

‘Til next time.

Deuces.