The things that give me joy.

• When a resident who hasn't spoken much starts talking to me.
• When the LPN on shift thinks I've been a CNA for more than 5 weeks.
• When a resident improves and gets to go home.
• When a resident who is suffering passes on quietly.
• When a resident teases me. Especially when they haven't in the past.
• Feeding a resident their dessert first when they need to be fed.
• When a resident laughs at something I've said.
• Hearing a resident laugh for the first time.
• When the shift ends and my residents are the same or better than when the shift started.