Taking pride

Today was my last day of Gyn/Oncology. It was a tough first week to have, but I made it.

On our last round today, I was leaning against a wall waiting to move on to the next patient and across the hall there was an empty room. I was gazing off into space and thinking about how tired I was. I'm not usually the most observant person, which is why I think God chose to open my eyes and teach me a lesson. In that empty room, I noticed that there was a folded towel on the bed tray and the hand towels were arranged like they do in a hotel with one wrapped around the bottom of the other one which is fanned out on the top (I know that is a terrible description but if you have stayed in a hotel, you know what I mean). When I saw this, it struck me. I was touched that housekeeping went so far that they would spend that much time just to make the room a little more presentable, even though it might go unnoticed.

Today I learned that we all should not look at our job as a JOB. We should look at it as a chance to make this world better. We should take pride in what we do, whether we are the doctors taking care of sick women with cancer or the housekeeping staff that are taking care of her. It takes the entire team to heal these people. It takes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab techs, housekeeping, maintenance workers, computer engineers, researchers, secretaries, administrators, nutritionists, and cafeteria chefs. The doctors can't cook the food, the maintenance man can't start the IVs, and the nurses can't clean the rooms. It takes each one to complete the team. No one is more important than the other.

No matter how tired I am, I must press on. I must look at my to-do list as opportunity, not obligations. Each interaction with patients and with staff is an opportunity to shine the light of Christ. I pray that those I work with and those I treat can see Christ's love in me.