Ask any nurse – extrovert or introvert – who is away from the frontline what she misses most; she’ll likely say “patient care.” “The people” will be a quick clarifying next statement, I assure you.

“Patient care” is a tenuous phrase. It’s complex, with hundreds of underlying systems. For many, “patient care” means task upon tiring task and continuous struggles to try to cobble together a broken and non-communicative healthcare system. It’s not what most people define as fulfilling. It’s actually incredibly frustrating. But I’m preaching to the choir here, no? I digress…

But when nurses reminisce and really talk about “patient care,” they’re not alluding to the broken pieces. They’re thinking of the high-touch, distilled moments of care. They’re talking about the magnetic pull towards healthcare – simply knowing you made a difference in someone’s life during a moment of intense need. It’s simultaneously the greatest sacrifice of self – to help a stranger who cannot help himself – as well as the greatest gift of acknowledgement – from someone who fully trusted in another.

There are lots of things nurses do not miss about “nursing.” People isn’t typically ever one of those.