Got a patient to smile after a 14-hour shift that felt like a marathon

It was one of those nights where every IV pump alarm sounded like a personal accusation. But near the end, I was helping a elderly woman with her water glass — she'd been up all night, anxious, couldn't rest. I just sat with her for a few minutes, talked about her garden, and when I left she actually smiled. That's the kind of thing that keeps me coming back, even when the coffee is burnt and the charting is endless.