I've kept pretty quiet here recently, regarding the latest escapade trending through social media. My newsfeed is flooded with nurses taking a stand behind a profession that they have committed their life to. I have read a ton of posts with nurses telling their stories, sharing pictures, holding up their "doctor" stethoscopes, supporting what they do, and coming together as one. But most importantly not just nurses the entire medical community including providers, nurses, respiratory therapists, CNAs, etc. have come together to support each other.
I'm not sure exactly what these five women were thinking when they began to open their mouth and discuss one of the most respected professions of all time. I'm not sure why they think that it's okay to put down other women or men that are successful and have chosen a career much more worthy than the careers that they have. I'm not exactly sure how they thought what they said the next day was an "apology". But then again there are many things in this world that I do not understand...
I refuse to spend anymore time discussing these "ladies", because clearly they are uneducated and misinformed of what the healthcare profession is really about! I would like to educate them on one thing that I learned as a young girl "actions speak louder than words." So yes, ladies to answer your question "I was listening!"
I am a nurse, a registered nurse! I have not chosen this career, this career has chosen me! It is my life! It is my passion! I work in an emergency room on a peninsula that stabilizes all traumatic patients (because the closest level 1 trauma center is 2 1/2 hours away) some of these patients are shipped to a higher level of care either by helicopter or by ambulance. But we see it all first! I am no better than a MedSurg nurse, pediatric nurse, OR nurse, ICU nurse, L&D nurse, psych nurse, etc.. I am a nurse who loves the chase and the organized chaos. I have a stethoscope, OH by the way it looks JUST like the stethoscope that the provider or doctor has that is going to come in after me to talk to you, to examine you! But I'm pretty sure after the past 48 hours that these ladies know that!
It takes a special person to be a nurse, the sacrifices that are made to help complete strangers and to keep them alive for no other reason, than to be there for them. Simple compassion and RESPECT for mankind, the human race! The things that we see in a 12 hour shift is unreal and unimaginable! The car accident where two young boys (7&9) were ejected out of the car... who do you think held their hands? Who do you think placed IVs, and pushed blood as fast as they could? Who do you think worked side by side with the doctor to hopefully save their lives, double checking every medication dosage, questioning any order that might not be right?? My guess is your answer would be #justanurse. In the next room who do you think listened to the patient cry as he was just diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 51 with a child who just became a freshman in high school? Who do you think stood beside the young teenager who was lied to, cheated on, and was just diagnosed with genital herpes? Who do you think had to hold a baby as he was getting a lower body cast on due to a femur fracture related to abuse? Who do you think was cussed out by the heroin overdose who's life was just saved? Who do you think had to explain to the new mother the correct dosage of Tylenol and ibuprofen for their child with a fever to help prevent multiple trips to the ER?? #justanurse Who do you think helped talk a manic depressed patient from committing suicide? Who do you think told the doctor that the patient needs to be on a pressure machine to help get the fluid off the patient's lungs so he's no longer drowning in his own fluid? Who do you think told the doctor, I think this patient needs to be seen now, he's anxious, unable to speak, or move his left side? Who do you think spent many a nights calming down that ONE Alzheimer's patient, talking to him and comforting him? #justanurse
And when I'm not in the ER, I work in home health, where there is no physician, but I still have that stethoscope... There is no one to turn to.. it's me and the patient. I get to hold their hand and teach them, care for them, call the doctor when something is not right, be their voice!
This is not doctor vs. nurse... I work with some of the best physicians out there... this is the medical field vs. ignorance... So Joy whatever your last name is... and Michelle Collins, whoever you are... what were you thinking? Now you get to watch as 3 million nurses unite and support each other against your show and your opinions! It's not about tough skin, because I'm pretty sure your producers made you all "apologize"! It's about being decent human beings! But the next time that you or your family members need some sort of medical assistance, you will be greeted by a nurse with a smile, someone who will treat you with compassion and empathy, because that's what we do!
Sincerely,
An ER nurse from the Eastern Shore!
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