Just a Nurse?

Just a Nurse?

I just got home from a long shift, wearing my regular scrubs. On the way back, I stopped at the store for milk and saw someone I know. She’d never seen me in uniform and said she didn’t realize I was just a nurse. That comment hit me harder than usual. Am I just a nurse?

I’ve helped bring babies into the world, some of whom needed a little extra help to take their first breath—and I’m just a nurse.

I’ve held the hands of patients as they took their last breath, always making sure they felt respected—and I’m just a nurse.

I’ve supported grieving parents after losing a child—and I’m just a nurse.

I’ve performed CPR to bring patients back to life—and I’m just a nurse.

I’m the one who supports doctors by assessing, treating, and managing your health—and I’m just a nurse.

I can check a newborn’s lungs to spot any issues—and I’m just a nurse.

I teach patients, families, and new nurses—and I’m just a nurse.

I stand up for patients in a system that doesn’t always prioritize their well-being—and I’m just a nurse.

I miss Christmas, birthdays, and school events because I show up to care for your loved ones—and I’m just a nurse.

I can take blood, put in IVs, and stitch wounds—and I’m just a nurse.

I can handle a cardiac emergency for a newborn, child, or adult—and I’m just a nurse.

I know the exact medications and doses needed to save a child’s life—and I’m just a nurse.