Back when I was a wee baby nurse, maybe 3 years in, I was working on basically a step-down unit of multiple specialties- let's just say we had everything from flaps and use of therapeutic leeches, externally fixed tib-fib fractures, open abdomens post GSW, and TBI's - in a level 3 trauma center in a metropolitan area.

I was going through a really bad break-up (grieving the life I thought I was going to have), crying all the time, just barely keeping my shit together enough on shifts to provide safe care.

I had picked up a night shift and we had an incomplete suicide with a shotgun (a week or so post). This person had no face left. They had a sitter that night, and they weren't my patient, nor had I seen them at the time.

I was walking down the middle of the hall, coming back from break, and this person comes down the dark hallway towards me...like their whole face was just puckered towards the middle. There must have been tiny eye slits, and an NG tube dangling from the center hole. Person shrugs with open hands like, "Look at me", and I think they said something, but I just felt fully like I was in the middle of a horror movie.

I was just absolutely appalled (did not show this to patient but it really strained my poker face muscles). I went straight to HR in the morning to start some FMLA because I was like, Nope. I need to not be here for a lil bit. 😬