Happy Labor Day to all my awesome nurse peers. Even those who have to work on Labor Day (like your’s truly). Labor Day is about celebrating the worker, and no one works harder than nurses. Need proof of how hard we work? Here ya go:
- Working 11pm to 7am and then high tailing it back to work at 3pm for a 16 hour (3pm to 7am) shift.
- Working an entire 8 hour shift without the benefit of a potty or food break.
- Staying over your shift to deliver the baby you have been helping to labor all day.
- Working all holidays and weekends while your friends and family are celebrating or relaxing without you.
- Varicose veins.
- Orthopedic shoes.
- Support hose.
- Addictions to caffeine
- Staying over your shift to ease the end of life of your patient you have known for months.
- Coming in on your day off to bring all your old baby clothes to the needy family you are caring for on Pediatrics.
- Answering the phone and coming in to work, even though your caller-ID outed your hospital.
- Coming in to work at 2am four days before your wedding due to a frantic call from the night charge nurse.
- Spending your break listening to the stories of your lonely, elderly patient.
- Touching those who others consider “untouchable.”
- Caring for patients whose diseases could kill you.
- Caring for patients who could kill you.
- Dealing with physical, emotional and psychological abuse on a daily basis.
- Caring for patients who have abused and killed others.
- Caring for other human beings in the their most vulnerably and intimate times.
*There are many more numerous examples of how nurses dedicate their lives to the work of healing others. What examples do you have?
Enjoy your Labor Day!
RR
