I am a nurse's aide and the job is not glamorous. It gets hectic, messy, dirty, but most importantly it is rewarding.

I was working second shift and of course we were short on staff, again. I had to work the whole rehab hall myself and I was fortunate enough to have a nurse that actually helped me with the tasks at hand. Everyone went to bed clean, happy, and received all the care they needed. Although I was sweating and running up and down the hallway to meet the needs of my patients, I felt that I did my best. I have provided each and every one of them with the best care that I could given under the circumstances. I thanked each and every resident for being patient with me, and mentioned that I would get to each one in a timely matter. They all went to sleep happy, and I told each one "good night and take care" before leaving their room.

I love my job and I love the people I take care of them, regardless of if they give me a tough time or not. Each one is special to me, and I never pass up the opportunity to ask how their day was and if they need anything else that I can help with. That day, by the time I finished with everyone, I still had two hours left until the end of my shift - perfect for charting, winding down, and answering any call lights that were going off. What I did not expect was to get a new admit coming in.

New bed-sheets, water, snacks, and necessary toiletries were stocked in his room, and I also fetched extra pillows for his comfort. After getting necessary information from him and getting him settled in, I asked if there was anything else he needed. He replied, "a conversation". I was thrown off by the answer since I was expecting a no, or some item I could find for him, but I had the time and we talked for about half an hour.

He told me his story and I told him mine - one of my favorite things about my job.

His past mistakes, future hopes, and deep faith in his religion were all mentioned. His wise and kind words helped me feel better about my night and recognize that my work was not going unnoticed. Although I am not a religious person, and don't consider myself too much of a believer, his words did help me that night. I helped him feel comfortable and at home, and he helped me sort out the chaos and doubt in my mind. He was the positivity and the reassurance I needed that helped me realize I was in the right field.