I was heading home after a tough shift, but even though I was in uniform, I decided to go into the supermarket to do some shopping.
When it comes to saving lives, doctors often receive the most recognition, while nurses, assistants, paramedics, and anesthetists are frequently overlooked. After a tough shift, nurse Caitilin Brassington ran into a former high school classmate at the supermarket who remarked, “I didn’t know you were just a nurse…” This comment struck a nerve, prompting Caitilin to write a heartfelt letter.
“I’ve heard this phrase many times in my 18-year career, but today it irritated me more than usual. Was that all I was? JUST a nurse? I’ve helped bring many children into the world, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve held the hands of the dying as they took their last breaths, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve revived patients who were clinically dead and helped them come back to life, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve comforted grieving parents, drawn blood, tended wounds, and missed countless holidays and family events to care for others, but I’m just a nurse. I can resuscitate a newborn, a child, or an adult, and though I’m just a nurse, I take pride in that!”
Caitilin’s letter highlights the essential role nurses play in healthcare, demonstrating their skill, compassion, and dedication to saving lives and caring for patients.
