A Registered Nurse since 1982, Steve Price began his healthcare career in the U.S. Navy in 1971 as a hospital corpsman. He spent 15 years in the dialysis field and worked for 8 years in a cardiac catheterization lab and for 3 years in clinical research. In the last 6 years, Steve has found his passion in hospice and palliative care, which inspired him to write the songs on his debut CD, “Awake”.

Steve explains, “I had never written a song prior to this project. I was as surprised as anyone that this material was brewing deep inside.” He believes each nurse needs a creative outlet as a way of self care. Through his music, he has found a renewed commitment to nursing and an enthusiasm for coaching patients and families at the end of life. Here are lyrics to two of his songs. To hear the music that goes with them and to learn more about Steve, visit www.stevepricern.com.

The One at the End of the Hall

There was a lady who hollered a lot
The one at the end of the hall
She looked much older for the years that she had
I remember the night of her fall

It took us awhile to clean it up
And stitch up the cut on her head
The jokes that she told they made us all laugh
While we got her all settled in bed

What was her name — thought I’d never forget
She wasn’t a patient at all
She was an angel that touched us so much
The one at the end of the hall

Would you believe that I can’t recall
But I can remember her touch
I realize that I was the nurse
But I wonder about all that now

I think she was sent to give us a gift
We just didn’t get it right then
Her eyes with that sparkle was ever so wise said
I’m dying but I just don’t know when

She was a smoker for 60 plus years
And she liked her whiskey as well
I found her one night she was holding her breath
“Just testing” she said with a smile

Just skin and bone she withered away
The cancer was now too far gone
Her treatments consist of the oxygen mist
And a joke on the nurse now and then

Why Do I Do What I Do

Why do I do what I do
Why do I do what I do
Why do I work so hard
All day long I get bombarded
Juggling each crisis for you
Time for my 9 o’clock meds
Somebody fell out of bed
Doctor is on the line
Wants to put a central line in
Please have the supplies ready for him

What makes me come back again
What makes me come back again
Why do I work so hard
I may need…c-p-r
If it doesn’t slow down now and then
Don’t forget your back safety class
My post-op patient just passed some gas
My other patient has a fever
Then I dropped the glucose meter
Into the hopper in the back

Once in a while I forget
Once in a while I forget
Why do I work so hard
Always being caught off guard
Once in a while I regret
I could buy a small flower shop
Rather than running ‘till I drop
Standing at the nurses station
Trying to deal with my frustration
I’m not sure… where…to even start

I really love what I do
You know I love what I do
Why do I work so hard
I guess…that I regard
Nursing to reveal what is true
We see the nature of man
We see the good and the bad
We see god’s perfection
And we see our own reflection
All in the service to you

We encourage readers to submit their original artwork and expressions, including illustrations, photographs, poems, essays, and short stories. We’re not looking for the next Frida Kahlo, Jane Austen, or Andy Warhol—just readers who’d like to share their creative efforts. For more information on submitting original works, please review our Author Guidelines.