Its been thirty seven + years since a naive nineteen year old started on a most difficult, rewarding journey that has caused tears, joy, pain, sadness..... There is no other job on this earth I'd rather do. I often learn new things - even after all these years. Most of my Co-workers including my manager could be by children. Sometimes the younger ones scoff at my comments. I've seen so much over the years. But when they have questions, they ask! I feel like I've helped raise many of them.
This thing with The View hosts is absurd. They are obviously uneducated about what nurses really do. We are not there to "serve" anyone. We are there to provide the best care that is evidence based that is possible. And, to deliver that care in a kind and caring manner. We are college educated. We have a minimum of a 2 year degree with many a 4 or more year degree. Most in my unit are also certified in critical care. All nurses in my unit also have advanced life saving certifications and many are competent in several adjuncts to care such as Intra Aortic Balloon Pump management, Impella management, as well as Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy as well as the ability to manage critical drips. Dr's do insert these devices and give orders for parameters they want to meet, but its the nurse who is at the bedside 24 hours a day. Holiday weekend storm ice or snow. We go when the postman won't.
I wrote most of this back in the fall when the view hosts insulted my profession. I believe none of them would last an hour following me. They ignored my (and numerous other nurses) challenge to shadow me for a day.
Im done for now.
To be continued......
