By Many will never understand the extent of what we do every single shift.
And here’s why:
None of them are in on our secret. Patients and families; husbands and wives; parents and children and colleagues and friends: because while they try, they will never understand the depth and breadth of mind and body required of a nurse.
And yet those who are in on the secret, or at least are suspicious of it, understand that it was no miracle that saved your loved one. Rather, it was the intent and vigilant care of a critically thinking, intuitive and fiercely devoted nurse.
Yet here we are, with our dirty little secret: our filthy mouths; our dark humor and sarcastic sensibilities; snarky and sassy and smart—can you sense that?
We Are Human
We are human. We make mistakes. We pick fights. We become emotional. And we must. Because every single day we grapple with our own identities, not only as men and women, but also as nurses—defined by a role that we wear as a badge of honor, yet has the potential to become a Scarlet Letter.
We are in a constant state of battle: with the establishment; with disease; with matters of life and death; with our coworkers and our families and ourselves.
Every day, nurses are stretched to their utmost physical, mental and emotional capacities. And while the sheer breadth of all that a nurse can (and is willing) to give is remarkable…
We are human. We are not infallible. We drink too much. We smoke too much. We eat candy bars for dinner.
But the most important thing to remember is that nursing is a demanding, sometimes ruthless world that’s peppered with just as many losses and sacrifices as it is victories. And so:
Take us as we are, all of us—the beauty, the burdens—every ounce of us, because we did not choose to be this way. Somehow, even if you fight against it, becoming a nurse will find you. It will seep into the marrow of your bones. It will sink into your soul. You will sacrifice parts of your own being to protect perfect strangers, and it will feel like a totally rational thing to do.
Thus, the article comes to a final, powerful statement:
I border on crazy. I’m slightly irrational. I’m absolutely neurotic. I’m completely invested. I’m a woman. I’m a wife. I’m a daughter. I’m a friend. But through it all, I am unapologetically a nurse.
Interested in reading more? We don’t blame you—you can find the article in its entirety here. Then, tell us—how do you want to be remembered? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
