Written by a ED Dr in Cardiff

Did you know NURSES have degrees, masters and doctorates? Did you know Nurses manage hospital research and trials?

Did you know NURSES do 13 hour shifts. 

Did you know that nurses, if they are lucky get a break.....BUT ...whether they get one or not they have to owe that time back to the NHS. So once every few weeks they have to work an extra shift ...for free...to cover their breaks! 

Did you know NURSES cardiovert you (shock your heart in to restarting properly). Nurses do CPR, pumping your chest to restart your heart if it stops, sometimes for over an hour more. Nurses can tell you if your heart's electrical tracing is sinus or AF or SVT or VT or VF or heartblock. They will inform the team if it's a dangerous trace, get the pads on your chest and have the life saving kit ready for the doctor to turn up and press the *shock* button... whilst you thank the doctor, the nurse will be off putting up lines for you and asking for us to prescribe pain relief for you.

Did you know NURSES can put you to sleep and intubate you. Nurses can keep you alive on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma indefinitely and care for your body's every nutritious, fluid, electrolyte, health need. They will even shave you, brush your teeth and cut your hair. They will also keep a daily diary so you can piece back your missing time when you wake up to reduce any PTSD.

Did you know NURSES pull your bones straight then put you in a cast/splint/binder/boot.

Did you know NURSES prepare nearly all of the doses and medications, tablets, injections, infusions....something that would make the average doctor want to hide if asked to do.

Did you know NURSES keep your new born baby alive in PICU after helping you deliver your baby down in obstetrics. Nurses prepare microgram perfect drugs for your newborn and ensure they are fed, cared for and sang to! 

Did you know NURSES will be the ones who manage your diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, heart problems, blood clots, cancer treatment, alcohol or drug addictions, emotional crisis and your mental health if needed.

Did you know NURSES take the metal debris out of your eyeballs, the lego out your nose, the bugs out your ears, the general 'x' out of your 'y'....

As you arrive in hospital did you know NURSES will do an electrocardiogram whilst taking your bloods and slamming a 1mm wide cannulae into your 1.5mm vein ...all alongside distracting you with a � "So where are you going on holidays after all this then?" .... whilst you squeeze their hand white with anxiety. Unbeknown to you they are also calculating your level of sickness to triage your needs and alert the doctors accordingly. 

Did you know NURSES keep doctors safe and help them learn how to be better doctors. Did you know if a nurse gives a prescription prescribed wrongly by a doctor, it's the nurse who faces punishment and a potential job loss.

I hope YOU now know....Nurses ARE medical professionals! Nurses are as skilled as doctors and surgeons.... they just do a different job.

I guarantee if you were asked to walk in off the street and do a nurses job in ED, ICU, on a ward.....within half a shift there would be at the very least several potential fatalities and you would be in tears from the stress and skills expected of you. Nevermind the tragedy and shocking scenes you may witness in just half a shift.

Nurses have been doing their job, day in and day out now for 16 months, working all through COVID. They have done it in headache, nausea and faint inducing hot and sweaty masks, gowns, shields and plastic aprons. Some have been isolating from their family and their children. Most have gotten sick during COVID, cried with us about risking their loved ones getting sick, hundreds have even given their life on the front lines of the pandemic for the NHS.

Despite these pressures and their highly skilled role, because they are amazing human beings, they will ALSO bring you a cup of tea, help you go to the toilet and hold your hand if you are lonely... but that isn't their job, you assume it is....they are just good human beings and are just that awesome!

Did YOU know nurses deserve more respect? Did you know in the first two hours of her night shift tonight ....the nurse in charge had to have two people arrested for their behaviour towards nurses?

How can you disagree.... NURSES DESERVE A PAY RISE!

An ED doctor ❤️

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