Nursingisaprofessionaboutcare.Nurseshelpsickpeople.Theyworkinhospitals.Theyworkinclinics.Theyworkincommunities.Theirjobisveryimportant.Theyarewithpatientseveryday.Theyseepain.Theyseefear.Theygivecomfort.Thisworkrequiresastrongheart.

Anurse’sdaystartsearly.Sheputsonauniform.Thecolorisoftenwhiteorblue.Shewearscomfortableshoes.Shewillwalkmanymiles.Shearrivesatthehospital.Shereceivesareport.Thereporttellsaboutthepatients.Ittellswhoisverysick.Ittellswhoneedsspecialcare.Shelistenscarefully.Shemustremembermanydetails.

Thenshemeetsherpatients.Shesaysgoodmorning.Shesmiles.Hersmilecanmakeapatientfeelsafe.Shechecksvitalsigns.Shetakesatemperature.Shemeasuresbloodpressure.Shechecksthepulse.Shewriteseverythingdown.Accuracyiscrucial.Asmallmistakecancausebigproblems.

Shegivesmedicine.Shemustbeverycareful.Shechecksthenameonthewristband.Shechecksthemedicinebottle.Shechecksthedosage.Shegivesthepillwithwater.Shewatchesthepatientswallowit.Somemedicinegoesintothevein.Shepreparestheintravenousdrip.Shefindsagoodvein.Sheinsertstheneedlegently.Shetapesitdown.Sheadjuststheflow.

Patientsneedhelpwithbasicthings.Averyweakpatientcannoteatalone.Thenursehelpshim.Shecutsthefoodintosmallpieces.Sheholdsthespoon.Sheispatient.Shewaits.Anotherpatientcannotwalktothebathroom.Thenursesupportshim.Shehelpshimgetoutofbed.Shewalksslowlywithhim.Sheprotectshimfromfalling.

Nursesalsododifficulttasks.Theycleanwounds.Theychangebandages.Theyseethingsthatarehardtosee.Theymustbestrong.Theycannotlookaway.Theymustbegentle.Theirhandsmustbesoft.Theirtouchmustbekind.

Theytalktopatients.Patientsarescared.Theyareinastrangeplace.Theyfeelpain.Thenurseexplainswhatishappening.Sheusessimplewords.Shesays,“Thismedicinewillhelpyourfevergodown.”Shesays,“Thedoctorwillcometoseeyousoon.”Hervoiceiscalm.Itbringspeace.

Theyalsotalktofamilies.Familiesareworried.Theyaskmanyquestions.Thenurseanswersthem.Shetellsthemthepatient’scondition.Shedoesnothidethetruth.Sheexplainsitwithcare.Sometimesshebringsbadnews.Thisisthehardestpart.Shemustbehonest.Shemustalsobekind.

Nursesworkasateam.Theyhelpeachother.Apatientisveryheavy.Onenursecannotturnhimalone.Shecallsforhelp.Anothernursecomes.Theyworktogether.Theyturnthepatienttopreventbedsores.Theytalktoeachotherduringtheshift.Theyshareinformation.Theysay,“WatchMr.Leeinroomthree.Hisbloodpressureislow.”

Theworkisphysicallyhard.Nursesstandformanyhours.Theyliftpatients.Theymoveequipment.Theyrushinemergencies.Theyareoftentired.Theirbackshurt.Theirfeetache.Theworkisemotionallyhardtoo.Theycareforapatientforweeks.Sometimesthepatientdoesnotgetbetter.Thepatientdies.Thenursefeelssad.Shemusthidehertears.Shehasotherpatientstocarefor.Shemustcontinueworking.

Whydopeoplechoosethisjob?Themoneyisnotgreat.Thehoursarelong.Itisstressful.Thereasonissimple.Theywanttohelp.Theywanttomakeadifference.Theyfindmeaninginthiswork.Seeingapatientrecoveristheirreward.Apatientsmilesandsaysthankyou.Thismakeseverythingworthwhile.

Technologychangesnursing.Newmachinesappear.Newrecordsaredigital.Nursesmustlearnnewskills.Theyoperatemonitors.Theyinputdataoncomputers.Thehumantouchremainscentral.Amachinecannotholdahand.Acomputercannotgivehope.Thenurse’spresenceistherealmedicine.

Theworldneedsnurses.Hospitalsneedthem.Agingpeopleneedthem.Sickchildrenneedthem.Societydependsontheirquietwork.Theyarethebackboneofhealthcare.Doctorsmakeplans.Nursescarrythemout.Theyaretheeyesandearsofthedoctor.Theywatchpatientsclosely.Theynoticesmallchanges.Theyreportthesechanges.Theysaveliveseveryday.

Anyonecanbeapatientoneday.Youmaylieinahospitalbed.Youwillseeanurse.Shewillcheckonyou.Shewillansweryourcalllight.Shewillbringyouwater.Shewilladjustyourpillow.Inthatmoment,herkindnessiseverything.Sherepresentssafety.Sherepresentshope.Nursingisnotjustajob.Itisaactofservice.Itisacallingtocareforhumanlifeinitsmostvulnerablestate.Theworkcontinuesdayandnight.Shiftschange.Nursescomeandgo.Thecareneverstops.