06/06/2026
People often assume the thing that broke me in the ICU was the trauma.
And yes, seeing people on the worst days of their lives changes you.
Watching families say goodbye.
Watching young people fight battles they shouldn’t have had to fight.
Seeing suffering most people will never understand.
But that wasn’t the part that broke me.
What broke me was being entrusted with caring for people in their greatest moments of need while working in a system that often made it impossible to care for myself.
There were days I couldn’t get a bathroom break.
Days I didn’t eat until I got home.
Days I gave every ounce of energy and compassion I had and still felt like it wasn’t enough because there were simply too many patients and not enough time.
I remember driving home exhausted, wondering how a profession built around caring for others could leave so many caregivers running on empty.
To every nurse, NP, PA, physician, therapist, and healthcare provider reading this…
How are YOU doing?
Not the answer you give your coworkers.
How are you really doing?
Because I know what it’s like to pour from an empty cup for years.
That’s why I’m grateful I trusted that little voice telling me there had to be another way.
A way to help people without sacrificing myself.
A way for nurses to own businesses.
A way to create freedom, impact, and income while still doing meaningful work.
Today, I still get to help people heal.
But I also get to eat lunch. 😅
I get to be present with my family.
And I get to show other healthcare providers they’re capable of far more than they’ve been led to believe.
If you’re still in the trenches, know this:
Your compassion is a gift.
But your life matters too. ❤️
Drop a 💙 below if you’re still working full-time in healthcare. I’d genuinely love to know how you’re doing.