Last Day

We sold the house, moved, and bought a house a month ago. But after a couple of weeks off of work, I had three more weeks of work left at Essentia. I have been able to think about my impending resignation for months, and even more so the past three weeks.

I love my job. Being a nurse practitioner in primary care is what I was meant to do. Knocking on an exam room door and meeting patients is exhilarating. They come in seeking help. And when I can help them, it feels amazing. Whether it's education about how to live a healthier life or figuring out what is wrong and helping sick patients feel better, I love it all. And in primary care, I get to see all ages and stages of life. I see pregnant women, babies, young men, business professionals, stay at home moms, grandmas; "womb to tomb", I say.

And with my current job, I have a blast when I'm outside the exam room. My collaborating physician and I are two peas in a pod. We are sarcastic and tease each other incessantly. And yet, we respect each other and make a great team. Our patients know that together we are here for them. He has taught me a lot, and I think I've even taught him a thing or two. During a prescreening interview for my new job, I was asked what I would take with me from my current job to my new one. Without hesitation, it would be him. He has made work fun. And I learn. All. The. Time.

Then there are the clinical assistants. They can make or break your day. If they are slow in rooming patients or aren't aware of your preferences, it can really slow your day. Fortunately, the women that work with me are wonderful. I have one main clinical assistant and one secondary person. They are intelligent, intuitive, anticipate what I might need, kind, compassionate, and fun to be around.

I will be forever grateful to my boss. She pushed for me to transfer up to Hermantown and helped make a temporary position permanent. In my past position, I didn't feel that my boss was an advocate for me, let alone for the NP profession. My current boss values my opinion, treats me as an equal, and calls me "sassy". I'll take it!

And the patients I see. Some of them make me batty. Some pull on my heart strings. I love listening to their stories. Up until now, I've known I have had a small following of patients. It's the greatest compliment to have them come back to you and/or to send their friends and family to you. I've gradually talked with "my" patients that I would be leaving back when Eddy got the job. But since announcing my last official day three weeks ago and telling patients about it, I've had my ego stroked. I've made people cry, seen frowns, heard "but I really like you", "who am I going to see now?", "but I've finally found someone I like", and "the good ones always leave me". One of my patients even crocheted me an afghan. I know the other wonderful providers at the clinic can easily pick up where I left off, but I feel bad for leaving these patients. It has been an honor to be on their life's journey with them.

Today I was inundated with cards, gifts, hugs, kind words, and a sinfully delicious cake.



Leaving my ID badge and walking out the door was unbelievably difficult. I feel that my time at Hermantown Clinic was cut short. But I left with many more friends than when I came. I hope I can pick up where I left off at my new job. And if I like my new coworkers half as much as the people I've left, I'll be lucky.