Six Word Memoirs about Work

Backstory

I am an ICU nurse in one of the nations leading academic medical centers. The pressure to be perfect is overwhelming. One mistake, one missed decimal point, one slight unnoticed shift in vital signs can mean the difference between life and death. I sat down in my Nurse Manager's office during a particularly busy day and told her that I felt worried and scared for my young patient. She was so sick and fragile and the outcome for her was uncertain. She said, "You have been a nurse for a long time. You make good decisions. Trust your gut. Believe in yourself. You are a professional and I know you can handle it." Her confidence gave me a chance to look back on my experiences and I realized that she was right.