I decided to answer Friday's Five with a nursing theme:

1. If you had a jar of peanut butter, what would you do with it:
I would put it on the roof of 317-2's mouth so that it gave him something to do rather than yell, "What's that? What are you doing?" every time I go in to see his roommate.

2. If you were to be creamated, where would you want your ashes to be and why?
Scattered over the college in which I am trying to get my next degree so that my spirit would somehow feel as if I were still attending classes.

3. If you could invent a flavor of jelly beans, what would it be?
"Be Nice To Your Nurse" so that it would remind patients that I am kind and helpful to them so they should return the sentiment. :)

4. If you could fly, where would you go?
Hawaii where I would learn to surf.

Lately, it seems, my patients have been wonderful, except, of course, a few who smudge the happy feelings like a water drop on a sheet of loose leaf paper. I had one patient the other night who is mentally challenged. He was so delightful, smiling and thanking me for each cup of juice. I was so taken with his utter glee that I sneaked him a piece of cake that one of the girls had brought in. It was okay with his diet but it is not generally acceptable to ply patients with nurses' food.

Then there was the guy who had an injury to his buttocks. He was well over 90 but was so modest that when I came in to assess him, he would not let me enter his room until he hurridly yanked the gown over his genitals. It was cute. At first. Until he insisted that I not be in the room while he stood to use the urinal. He was a fall risk. He had had a bad spill at home already. He was unsteady on his feet. Wobbly. Slipping. Sliding. No gripped socks were going to keep him upright without a helping hand. Yet he insisted that I not help him. Time and time again the alarm signaled me to his leaping out of the bed to try to pee before I came in. After six or seven times, it was not quite as funny as it was the first time. I tried compromise, asked others for ideas. We tried other ideas. Nope. The only one he opted for was me out of the room while he stood bedside inside the room. It was a long 12 hours. I nearly ran out without clocking out.

Many days, this job is rewarding. Some days it's a little tougher to enjoy nursing. But overall, it's a great career and serving others in their time of need can never be beaten...everything else would just be a job.