What does a nurse do?

This is the first time it’s ever been so quiet in here. Everyone is seated around the table with tense, agitated expressions on their face.

One of the senior doctors at the hospital has went to the board to complain so much about the nurses, we had to have a mandatory meeting.

“I’m not getting the respect I’ve earned as a doctor. The nurses are here to assist us doctors in whatever we need to help these people. These nurses here are much too opinionated, stubborn, and immature. They’d rather stand around and socialize than make sure their doctor is competently assisted. They walk around here like they’re much more informed or important than any doctor here.” Dr Henry Socoma complains.

Someone has to say something. “With all due respect Dr. Socoma, you do realize that nurses are the worker bees that keep the hive going? What’s up with the lack of respect to us?” I ask him.

”That’s exactly what I mean, that snooty attitude when all I’m asking for is help.”

Dana stands up. She’s been a nurse here for years, longer than me, and she’s probably the most fed up.

“You’re asking for help? Do you know how many patients I tend to in one night? How many patients do you make it to in one night? By the time you’ve actually made it to a patient you’ve been assigned to, I’ve helped nearly the entire floor of patients and any other nurses that needs help.” She replies to him.

Another nurse stands up. “There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that nurses are very important in a hospital. But we refuse to be treated like we’re next to nothing or we’re second best because we aren’t doctors,” she explains.

But Dr. Socoma looks unsatisfied. “You still don’t get it.” I sit back into my seat dejectedly. You would think helping save lives will automatically bring you respect. Apparent since im just a nurse, I don’t deserve respect.

“Follow me, Dr. Socoma. It’s best you see it for yourself.” Dana stands up and leaves the room. After a moment of hesitation, we all follow her out of the room and onto the busiest floor of the hospital.

One nurse rushes past with a patients medication and documents in her hands. She notices us watching but continues on with her duties.

“That’s a nurse making sure a diabetic patient gets their insulin.

it may not seem like a big deal to you, but that nurse is making sure the patient gets the proper treatment they need.” Dana explains to Dr. Socoma.

Dana brings our attention to a specific room nearby. Inside, a nurse is sitting by the bedside soothing an obviously hysterical patient. She notices us but still carries out her duties.

“A lot of the times, nurses are there for emotional support. Not everything we do to support a patient or their family will be medical. Sometimes they just want to know if they’ll be okay, what their best options are, or explaining what to expect. We’re getting them prepared or comfortable with their next steps. Nurses do a lot of communication with the patients before and after a doctors intervention.” She explains.

We walk past another nurse and doctor on the floor, having a very detailed discussion about a patient.

“I know that procedure will help them a lot, but they haven’t been taking care of themselves properly. They’ve been aggressively rejecting the water and liquids we’ve been providing them. We can’t do it on a dehydrated patient.”

“As you can see, sometimes the nurses interact with patients and pick up on the little things to relay that information to their assigned doctor. Good doctors and nurses come together for their patients to figure out what’s the next best step.” Dana explains, looking pointedly at Dr. Socoma.

Dana points to a nurse carrying a tray with food to a patient’s door. “We even deliver the food to the patient’s that stay over night when they can’t make it to the cafeteria themselves. The patients really appreciate it,” Dana explains. “We even deliver commodities for the patients and their visitors like blankets, pillows, beverages, and more, making not only the patients comfortable, but their visitors as well.” Dana adds on.

“Nurses are the first faces that patients see when they’re checked in. We take their vitals, measurements, health histories, draw blood, and even perform diagnostic testing at times,” I add on much to Dana’s approval.

“And a lot of us nurses don’t just work in hospitals. You can find us in schools, camps, prisons, militaries, and even in patients homes.” Angela, a much more soft spoken nurse, speaks up.

“A hospital cannot be ran without a doctor, or the nurses. If you think you can run this hospital all by yourself, go ahead.”

The nurses burst into applause at the end of Dana’s speech, some nurses even in tears.

It doesn’t matter if Socoma changes his mind. One thing is made clear: nurses are much more important than we’re made to be.

Hospitals are like a machine, and we’re a big part in keeping this machine well oiled.

You cannot deny the excellence of a doctor, no doubt, but a nurse is no less of a warrior in the world of health care.

Doctors are the commanders, and nurses are the soldiers: usually overlooked, worn down, and buried namelessly when the smoke clears.

Dr. Socoma looks carefully around the focused bustle of the hospital for a while before finally facing us.

“I see…I think I have been looking at things differently. I deeply apologize if you nurses feel disrespected in any way. Your passion for health is no different than mine. I offer a truce,” Dr. Socoma extends his hand out to Dana.

She shakes his hand, giving him a nod. “Truce accepted.”

This is the moment the Commander turns to his soldiers and says unto them, “I see every single one of you! I admire your determination!” To storm to the frontline and win the war.