To my nurse,
Past, present, and future.
I don’t claim to grasp the intricacies of your profession or the extensive list of responsibilities that accompany your role each day. I can only imagine that while some tasks are ones you eagerly embraced, others can feel like burdens too heavy to bear. The physical, emotional, and mental toll of your job is likely beyond my understanding, and I can only speculate about the whirlwind of feelings you experience throughout your shifts—sometimes even in the span of an hour.
It seems entirely possible that feelings of deep frustration can swiftly transition to moments of pure joy, or that feelings of anger can morph into laughter as you walk into a new patient’s room or navigate a bustling hallway. While I know you wish for more of us to understand the challenging nature of your work and its impact on you, there’s something I need you to recognize too.
Sweet nurse: I once saw you in the midst of your routine tasks, and although I appreciated your service, I didn’t fully comprehend your depth. It took a moment of personal need—beyond what could be recorded on a chart—for me to realize the extent of your role. I hadn’t understood that, beyond your medical and clerical duties, you provide a vital form of emotional support that transcends mere words of comfort.
I learned this during a particularly difficult time: my D&C procedure after a miscarriage. That day, filled with sadness and vulnerability, I was trying to hold it together. As the nurse began the paperwork and asked me to explain my reason for being there, I mentioned the procedure. Her expression shifted to one of profound empathy, and while I was grateful for her condolences, I didn’t expect what came next.
When the conversation turned to the remains of my baby, I crumbled. In that moment of utter despair, she didn’t hesitate. She climbed onto my bed, enveloping me in her arms, sharing my tears, and praying with me. In that brief encounter, she became everything I needed and more—an angel in scrubs, embodying kindness and empathy.
Though we only shared a fleeting half-hour, her impact on my life has been enduring. I can still picture her vividly, even five years later. In a time of darkness, she was a beacon of compassion, a reminder of the strength of the human spirit. Until that experience, I had been fortunate to avoid truly traumatic medical encounters, and it was in this painful moment that I first truly saw a nurse.
So now, dear nurse, I truly see you. I thank you not just for checking my vitals, but for the countless individuals you have embraced, cried with, and supported through their most vulnerable times. You are an awe-inspiring presence in the lives you touch.
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In summary, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to you, my nurse, and to all nurses who pour their hearts into caring for others, often in the most challenging moments of life.