Nurses For President!
Words by: Maggie Laubscher | Music by: Abby Yemm
Happy Nurses Day & Week! Today is National Nurses Day, and then Nurses Week runs today through Thursday, May 12.
Nurses run the world, especially this past year. Did you know that there are more than 3.8 million nurses nationwide? And growing, according to the American Assoc of Colleges of Nursing.
What’s more, the demand for higher education in nursing is growing. More and more, an associate’s degree is not enough. According to a recent survey by the American Assoc of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), 46-percent of employers require new hires to have a bachelor’s degree while 88-percent strongly prefer it. This means more schooling, more costs, and slower income growth for nurses.
It will be interesting to see what nursing looks like in our future. It’s a career made up of strong, resilient, smart people who have an aim to do good. Much like teachers, nurses fuel our present and our future. Our hope is that the demand for nurses grows, while also growing the benefits and pay and visibility in our workforce.
Because remember, as the pandemic crashed in, nurses stepped forward. They showed up when we were wiping down groceries and bunkering up. They showed up when they weren’t allowed to wear masks for fear of scaring patients. They showed up when there was negative PPE available. They showed up as people died from COVID. And they are still showing as vaccines came available and people are still uncertain about treatment.
Nurses run the world. In light of Nurses Day, we asked some of our friends for their thoughts on nursing right now. Here is nursing today, in their words…
Why did you decide to become a nurse?
‘The reason I became a nurse was definitely because of my grandma, Mema. She lived with my family for 11 years, from when I was in middle school through college. During that time, she had dementia and diabetes, so she needed help with things -- checking her blood sugar, administering medications, etc. I loved helping her. It was something clear-cut I could do to help her and ease her days. She had the sweetest disposition, too.’
-Molly, geriatric nurse practitioner in Kansas City
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‘I became a nurse because I love the human body and how fascinating it is, and also because helping people was important to me.’
-Lindsey, school nurse in Prairie Village, KS
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‘I didn’t start out as a nurse. While I was working as a jewelry buyer at Sears Corporate, my grandpa was going through some serious cardiac issues and I was spending a lot of time in the hospital with him. Watching the nurses care for him made me realize I wasn’t fulfilled in my job. I felt like I could do something more. Fast forward, I quit my job, went through an accelerated nursing program, and I’ve now been a nurse for 10 years. I’ve helped anxious new moms, I’ve saved a newborn baby’s life, I’ve listened to patients. Just yesterday, I had a patient who came to the hospital for a procedure, the first time in 15 years since her husband passed away. She cried and talked, and I just listened. I absolutely love my job. ’
-Lynsy, nurse in Chicago, IL
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‘I became a nurse to be a millionaire! Kidding, kidding. In the clearest and simplest terms, I became a nurse to help people.’
-Erin, O.R. nurse in Rockford, IL
How has the pandemic changed your feelings on being a nurse?
‘It was a scary and amazing year to be a nurse. I am more proud than ever to be part of this profession, honestly. We all came together and helped each other, both inside and outside of work. We shared our knowledge while working on the frontlines, and we shared shoulders to cry on after the tough days. Nurses truly are amazing. I could not have survived this past year without them.’
-Liz, nurse in Chicago, IL
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‘I worked the front line in an ER in downtown Dallas. To be honest? It was hell. The past year as a nurse really shook me. I still have a hard time looking back. I wish I could undo and unsee the year 2020 as a healthcare worker, for the sake of those lost and those who had to work on the front lines through it.’
- Sydney, ER nurse in Dallas
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‘When this pandemic happened, the news was on 24/7, and the stories about healthcare workers broke my heart each and every time. I felt guilty that I went into nursing to help people, but I wasn’t working and helping at our greatest time of need. When school started again, I finally found my purpose during this crisis. For probably the first time in my short school nursing career, I felt like I was truly helping the students and families within the school.’
-Lindsey, school nurse in Prairie Village, KS
How would you describe the past year as a nurse in one word (or a few)?
“Challenging. Resilient. Imperative. Fulfilling.”
-Jenna, nurse at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City
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Happy Nurses Day, to nurses everywhere!
Thank you for helping to hold up the world.
An Abby Yemm playlist for you…
A playlist created by Abby Yemm
Disclaimer: We love having these conversations. We hope you love them as well. As a peaceful reminder, all views, opinions, statements, feelings, and vibes posted on Nelle News are solely those of the beautiful individuals involved. They might not represent any other person, agency, organization, employer, or company’s views, opinions, statements, feelings, or vibes. Nelle profiles are meant to entertain and show a real-life conversation; nothing more or less.