nurses to the rescue

When people ask me how my day was, 

I now lie- and smile- and say

“GREAT!”

With all the enthusiasm of a 

High School Cheerleader 

On Prom Night. 

Because if I tell the truth, 

They think I’m complaining. 

Or burned out

Or the job is killing me. 

Or I need to quit and drive for Uber. 

The truth is

There’s very little intrinsic joy in what I do. 

We have to bring the joy

If there’s any joy to be found. 

These kids never recover 

And they seldom get better. 

Plus the bullying, and lazy nurses. 

And long hours- 

It’s toxic. I get it. 

But that’s how nursing is. 

It’s not Grey’s Anatomy. 

It’s not glamorous. 

People don’t want to see 

What is behind the curtain. 

Because in every case- 

It’s a human condition 

Of illness, and often- suffering. 

That’s what nursing is-

To help the people who need it. 

Most days it’s me doing laundry

And mopping, and making beds, 

and putting up supplies,

Cleaning up poop

And vomit and pee-pee, 

And working out little arms and legs -

With little braces- 

And little lungs with big machines- 

And suctioning green snot - 

And giving meds meds meds - 

Through little tubes-

And charting charting charting-

For low pay and maybe a few smiles. 

All done with a fresh face, starched scrubs,

And a loving smile. 

Or yet another “I got your nose!” Game

From your favorite Sweet Baby. 

Do sick kids know they’re sick? 

I’m not sure they do. 

After 30 years of taking care of 

Traumatic Brain Injuries

And Birth Defects 

And some pretty serious diseases-

I can just admit that 

I’m not sure. 

Pediatric Hospice is not for every Nurse. 

Kids didn’t do any of this to themselves;

What they have didn’t come from 

Poor lifestyle choices -

As is often the case with Adults. 

 I have many non-vaxxer friends

On a vent right now

Because they took a chance

And paid the ultimate price. 

By the way- 

Scottish Rite turns 100 today! 

That’s lots of kids! 

If you’re lucky,  you get immortalized 

For 15 minutes of fame

Before some other kids stomp it out. 

Nursing is more like the chaos

 and fast pace of Scrubs

With the frustration and 

Underfunding of M*A*S*H

Throw in the bullying

(There’s one in every case!)

Throw in some  SnapChat filters-

Some math homework-

A few stray cats-

Cold lunches, cold coffee-

Doctor appointments-

Van rides, endless pranks-

Slime, occasional crying-

Cartoons, and walks outside,
And a mirage begins to form -

An oasis of nursing care

In the desert of the reality of 

Chronically Sick Kids. 

Years of grooming and cultural expectations 

And the idea of helping people 

As a job 

Makes for a very odd career! 

Less than half the people 

Who start, actually make it though 

Nursing School. 

It’s abnormally hard. 

And now with Covid-

OMG it’s a slaughterhouse. 

Still applies every day! 

With much love ~

Your humble Nurse Anne