My 10 years of nursing experience has led me down a path I did not anticipate -- a path filled with thorny branches, deep ravines, high mountains, and beautiful flowering color. One truth remains: I love what I do for a living. Frequently I wonder how people stay in jobs that make them miserable. Why do they tolerate feeling that way?

I fear losing sight of why I chose this career, and becoming numb to the joys and pains that go with it. To face this fear, I began writing.

In this blog, I will explore the diverse and complicated job of ED nursing, and touch on some general nursing topics. I want to share the simple stories of life and death that refuel my passion. I hope you will take something away from reading these posts, and will take the time to add comments to share your perspective and stories. I have a lot in my backpack to offer to many different types of nurses, and I am glad that you will now walk beside me.

Lorettajo A. Kapinos currently resides in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two children. In 1997, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a Bachelor of Science degree. She works at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, as an emergency room nurse. Her ten years of experience ranges from sub-acute to orthopedics to the ED. Many experiences in nursing have prompted Lorettajo to more actively pursue her passion of writing. Lorettajo has always found pleasure in writing but now believes her love for writing and nursing can be combined to create a potential role model for struggling nurses. Her experience in emergency nursing makes her a prime candidate for representing and advocating for this population.