True Unsung Heroes

This article shoes how Nurses are generally viewed and how they should be viewed. It showcases what they do and how people should respect, appreciate and admire the things that they do each and every day.

True Unsung Heroes

I would like to talk today about a profession that seems to stare at common courtesy with frustration at times. They often get viewed as just a friendly face or only a helping hand. I am referring to our nurses of the world.

What is a nurse and what do they really do?

Well...they do a lot more than you would think and they usually are sweating before you are even making breakfast. A nurse is a health care professional who is responsible for the safety and recovering of ill and injured people. Let me tell you that this does not even begin to define what a nurse truly does. Not only do they work 12 to 18 hour shifts, on their feet most of the time and cleaning up what most of us couldn't stomach, but they do so with a smile.

Nurses in general often get stereo-typed as these beautiful, angelic faces that walk around with a clipboard and ask for the doctor. This couldn't be further from the truth, not the beautiful angelic face part. They are doing things for patients that the doctors would never dream of doing or would want to do for that matter. Do they get the respect that they deserve? Absolutely not! Why is this? This occurs in our society because of our fast paced lifestyles, impatient behavior and downright negative attitudes. The way that we treat our nurses, especially our emergency room nurses, is utterly ridiculous to say the least. You have to realize that these men and women are there to help you! It doesn't matter how old they are, where they went to school, how long they have been there, what matters is how you respect them. Remember people, they are here to help not become a magnet for your hate or total rudeness.

We, as a society need to change the way we view nurses all together. We shouldn't look at their titles as just a Halloween costume that your 20 year old female neighbor wore at the party last year. Nothing against her costume, I am just pointing out the importance of their roles. What I'm trying to say is, when you are visiting your local hospital and your nurse has greeted you, show them a little respect. Forget about all the stereo-types and what you think they should be doing because let me tell you, they know their job. I have heard countless stories where people will visit the hospital and attempt to tell the nurse what he or she should be doing. Really? You went to nursing school where? You don't yell at your bank teller because you thought they could have handed your money to you differently. You don't gripe to your child's teacher about the way their lesson plan is organized, do you? The point is we think because we know everything about the loved one we brought in, that we can start calling the shots. We need to show them more respect and appreciation for what they do because they are doing much more than you probably realize.

Nurses are the backbone of our health care system and often go unnoticed. They do so many things that we would never dream of doing in a million years. Do you know what nurses really do? They save lives people! All of the things and duties you have witnessed them do, these are only a part of what they are and what they do. They are life savers, in more ways than one. They are educators, advocators, and all around health care professionals. Without nurses, our health care system would simply fail. Plain and simple, it would fail and would not work without them.

Nurses are the true unsung heroes that we all should recognize and admire for what they go through each and every day for all of us. They do not work Monday through Friday, they don't work a normal 8 to 5 shift and they don't have any typical work days as most of us do. Most people can expect what their work day is going to look like or at least have some sort of an idea. Not nurses, as everyday for them is totally new and unexpected experiences. Remember this when you are in the hospital next time and waiting for the doctor. You are standing there annoyed and wanting to take out all of your anger and frustration on your nurse because you think you can. You have no idea that he or she just finished running back and forth countless trips to different rooms cleaning up patients that bled, puked and yelled at them. You also don't know that they did all of this while missing their lunch, holding in their bowels, and staying over their 12 hour shift, so that they could greet you with a smile.

Let me ask you all this? How many times do you actually go to work and leave with the utmost desire that you could have done so much more. I mean leave work thinking to yourself that if you only had a little more time in your day, (this is after your third straight 12 hour shift) that maybe you could have made someone happier or could have done so much more. Do you really do this when you leave work? Guess what? Nurses do this and have this attitude each time they leave work. They just held the hand of a small child that had no hope of survival because it made the child happy and alive for just a moment, but they did all this with a smile on their face. Most of us get upset when we miss our lunch break or we don't get to leave right after eight hours.

I am not a nurse, but I can honestly say that I love one very much and I respect each and every nurse that goes into battle each day. Battle? Yes because they battle so much on a daily basis. They battle with each other, doctors, hospital administration and most of all the patients and their families. Are they better than we are? No, but we need to see and realize what and how much they actually do. They are looked at as hand holders and angels to most because most people do not want to hear about all the bedpans they cleaned, the vomit, urine and God knows what else that they had to clean. Well guess what? They are hand holders and angels, but they do so much more than we know or give them credit for. They are nurses. They are people. They have lives just like the rest of us do, so treat them with the same respect as you would want. Just remember to cut them some slack the next time you are in the doctor's office or a hospital. They are there saving lives and truly making a difference in someone's life each and every day. They are not just nurses, but they are true heroes that need to be saluted, respected and appreciated. Make sure that you thank a nurse today or at least let one know that they do matter.

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J Craig

About J Craig

My name is J Craig and I write on my blog about things that relate to positive thinking. Subjects are unique and diverse, but all have the same goal, which is to see the positives within each story.

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Specializes in Oncology&Homecare.

Thank you for your heartfelt Valentine. It is nice to know that someone sees the job for what it is.:flwrhrts:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I also Thank You very much for seeing the reality that is our daily work lives. Now if only we were allowed to hand this to each patient & family member we come in contact with. :)

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very well appreciated article..

nurses are really heroes!

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This article is soooooooo appreciated. Thank you so much for seeing this and acknowledging this. Just the acknowledgment means a lot.

Ha! I like gentlegiver's comment about being able to give this to family members.

Can you get this published and posted at every facility and Hospital where nurse's work?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Dialysis, OB, Peds, LTC..

This would be a great introduction to a book about nurses or the nursing profession! I felt the sincerity in your writing, thanks.

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Thanks for the kind words to nursing. I don't know who the nurse in your life is, but it is wonderful that you are taking the time to say what they do and who they are.

Fortunately I see more good people than bad. Most of my patients thank me for what I do. I get hugs at the end of shift or when they are discharged. You can't imagine how much I appreciate this.

I have had patients tell me that I look tired at the end of shift. It is so funny, it's like my patients are trying to take care of me.

I love what I do or I couldn't do it, because it is hard work. I'm sure the person in your life would tell you that as well.

Keep writing. It is appreciated.

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Thank you all very much for your compliments. My wonderful girlfriend is the nurse in my life. She works in the Emergency Room of a busy Children's Hospital and I would never be able to do what she or anyone of you do.

She inspires me everyday because I know that she is doing things that not many people are capable of doing. It takes a very special person to even become a nurse, but to love what you do...well that takes someone with a big heart and the utmost desire to help others. My hat goes off to her and every other nurse that stick it out through all the bad times in order to see the good. This world could use more people that possess this type of attitude and determination of helping those they don't even know.

Thanks again.

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