Thanks to all the nurses who take care of my patients and every other patient. I may be a doctor, but you are the ones who deliver the care. You give the medications and hang the IV fluids. You wash the patients and turn them. You check their vitals and listen for bowel sounds. You walk with them. You talk with them. You fulfill their needs. And you provide comfort to them and their families.
You have seemingly limitless patience and endurance. You have heightened senses, for when you tell me you smell Cl. diff, I believe you. Your nose has probably smelled enough stool for 37 lifetimes. Even if you work 3 or 4 days a week, and there are jokes are aplenty of how easy that must be, I know the shifts are anything but. You are constantly running around attending to patients and answering bells and whistles. Listening to patients. Taking orders from doctors. Getting yelled at by patients.…
