Angel or Person? I think you know my answer; however, I want to stress to you the significance of the thousands of women and men who serve us every day as nurses. No, they are not angels. Without any doubt though, they are messengers of God’s common grace to humanity every moment of the day. Regardless of the day of the week, the time of the day, or the holiday, nurses demonstrate care and mercy to patients – regardless of who the people are or from where they come. At their own peril, they serve. In the face of danger, they serve. In the middle of the biggest messes, they serve.
Today’s blog functions as a shout-out to these dear people all around us. Most of the nurses that will serve us, we will never remember their names. However, without them, we would sense God’s common grace less and our healthcare system would collapse. It is easy to be tempted to give all the kudos to doctors, but we must not forget another category of heroes (or angels), our nurses.
A Personal “Thank You”
When our precious Kayla needed you, you served well. Twenty years later, we still know the names of the women and men who cared for our daughter in the NICU. These good people served us as they served her. They did not love our daughter more than we did; however, they were the hands and fingers of our love for her. When we did not know what to do or what could be done for her, these great people lovingly cared for her. Since then, nurses enjoy a special place in my heart – especially those from the NICU.
In Our Most Vulnerable Moments
In our most vulnerable moments of life, nurses serve us. Patients’ blood, bodily fluids, smell, look, and attitude never stop these caring professionals from doing their jobs. Of course they are concerned about their own personal danger to a extent, but in all reality, they serve in spite of the danger. When we need grace and mercy most, nurses provide it.
Most Trusted Profession
For the 17th consecutive year, Gallop reports nurses as the most trusted profession. They write, “More than four in five Americans (84%) again rate the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as “very high” or “high,” earning them the top spot among a diverse list of professions for the 17th consecutive year.” As an average person, congratulations! As a pastor, that is embarrassing! We should be in our communities what you are.
We See, But Maybe Do Not Understand.
Consider the following list of reasons from Peter Jones of why nurses have it so hard.
Nurses Must Have Extreme Confidence at All Times
1. They routinely have to make life-and-death decisions for multiple patients at a time, often with little notice or preparation, i.e. a five-minute shift report.
2. They can get transferred to a wing or department for a day (that they know almost nothing about) and be expected to act as though they’ve been at it for 20 years.
Nurses Have Encyclopedic Knowledge and Stellar Memory
3. They’ll get berated by a doctor for the one thing they forgot, but never thanked for the 1001 things they manage to hold in their head throughout a shift.
4. They have to know all there is to know about 18,000+ medications: etiology, classification, contraindications, dosage, allergies, etc.
5. They need to be able to determine the significance of lab results and decide whether to bring in a doctor in the middle of the night if there are obscure abnormalities in your bloodwork or tests.
6. They actually read the research findings taped to the back of the bathroom stall door by the higher-ups.
7. No matter how old they are, they’re often asked to learn whole new software systems from scratch.
8. They can take your pulse with nothing but their fingers and a watch in 15 seconds flat.
Nurses are Caretakers of Everyone Around Them…
9. They have to figure out what to feed themselves and their families while they’re cleaning out your catheters and bedpans.
10. They have to manage care—PT, OT, radiology, diet, social services, medications, consultants, and wound care—for multiple patients at a time, but also remember where they put their car keys.
11. They need a doctor’s permission to write you a prescription for extra strength ibuprofen, but are routinely trusted to float catheters through patients’ hearts and veins to monitor them on the regular.
…At the Expense of Their Own Health
12. If they want to eat, they probably have to have the names and phone numbers of all the local take-out places stored in their memory.
13. They often arrive at work when it’s still dark out and go home after it’s dark again.
14. They feel guilty leaving their patients for the 10 to 30 minutes they (maybe) get to take for lunch.
15. They spend 12+ hours a day on their feet and still are told by their own doctors that they should get more exercise.
16. They probably have two dozen sets of scrubs, but none without a stain from someone’s bodily fluid.
17. More often than not, they won’t get a chair when they need one at the nurses’ station.
The Have a Unique Set of Quirks and Everyday Problems
18. They might have to choose a doctor for themselves based on whether that doctor is kind to nurses.
19. They have to know their patients by diagnosis and room number before they can bother with a name.
20. They probably feel naked without their stethoscope, pen, or other crucial implement.
21. Their worst nightmares involve anything from losing patients to doctors calling them and they can’t find a patient’s chart.
22. They have to learn to read doctors’ “handwriting.”
Bottom line: it’s hard to be a nurse. If you are one, thank you for all you do. If you’re not, go thank a nurse!
Thank You Nurses
I by no means will make this list exhaustive, but do want to mention a few nurses that have helped shape me and of whom I am proud. The first nurse I ever knew was Mary Sue Hubbard. She recently retired from years and years of service. My Aunt Debbie Carson also put a beautiful smile on the profession. She in her sweet spirit serves relentlessly. I love Linda Jenkins and appreciate all she has done for our family and friends over the years. Nurses Marlene Szesny and Gay Nell Cranor will always hold a special place in my heart for the incredible work they did over the years at Baptist Bible College, who now Kara Turner serves. From high school, Shannon Lowe, Tonya Coram, Lisa Barmore, and Tracy Wheeler. At Sonrise, Becca Messer, Emily Parsons, and Maribel Coolidge serve so faithfully! Regarding nurse practitioners, Bobbie Boyd and Missy Penkalski are at the top of my list. Plus, my father-in-law Glenn Nale served in so many positions over the years, including assistant director of the OR. I loved his stories and commitment to University Medical Center at Texas Tech. These are just a few of the many I could mention, and for whom I am grateful.
Long hours, incredible stress, faithful service. Regardless of what crazy politicians say, just know we are all grateful.
Angels? No. Conduits of God’s common grace and mercy to people? Absolutely!
If you are a nurse, here is a list of everything available for you today around the nation in appreciation – related to food and national chains. Your local area could always be different.
My Father-in-Law Glenn Nale
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
