Respecting Our Heroes: 9 Reasons Nurses Deserve More Appreciation And Benefits

Nurses know patients the best. No one checks on a patient’s well-being like nurses do. It’s not uncommon for patients to have a friendship with their nurses. That is because nurses spend a reasonable amount of time with patients. They’re chartering their symptoms. Keeping track of their health and ensuring patients are at ease. These nurses also keep a patient company if they’re going through invasive treatment. No other sector is as deeply involved with patients as nurses. The close bond they have with patients is what helps patients heal.

Qualifications like MD and DO have immense respect in the medical sector. Doctors are highly honored for the care and services they provide to patients. Nurses are not far behind. Apart from completing their initial nursing degree and certificate programs, many nurses go for a master’s degree. Numerous practicing nurses can now opt for masters in nursing online and become highly qualified professionals. They have the knowledge and expertise to help patients in a well-informed manner. Nurses work at a hospital around the clock. With their long schedules, taking out time to study more makes them more admirable.

Whenever a patient needs them, nurses rush to help, often ignoring their health. During the pandemic of 2019, there was a vast PPE shortage. Despite having little to no PPEs, many nurses rushed to help patients and take care of them. They would make sure a patient can breathe, be stable, and not suffocate in the machine. The coronavirus is lethal. If nurses get exposed, there is a chance they’ll get sick too. Despite knowing the risk, most of these nurses still stood by patients and helped them.

Nurses work on a heavy schedule. They stay in the hospital for long hours and even pull overtime. The purpose of nurses giving extra hours is because numerous patients need constant monitoring. Doctors may be handling some other cases or going home to rest, but nurses don’t get this liberty. They stay back and take care of patients. It’s not easy to run around the hospital and ensure every patient receives a blanket or is sufficiently hydrated. They also know what to do when a patient might be collapsing and provide help.

Many nurses make an effort to learn about different cultures and languages since they want to improve communication with their patients to help them get better. Not every patient is comfortable going to a hospital. Most patients feel scared and overwhelmed checking in and getting help. Nurses can remove the discomfort and hesitation by speaking to patients using their local dialect. Some patients have a better time explaining what they’re going through in their native tongue. No sector works so hard to help its patients. To learn a second or even third language followed by their culture takes dedication.

Nurses work in retail clinics, which are small health centers in retail stores and pharmacies. Despite their busy schedules, many nurses still step out of the traditional hospital setting and help patients. They can administer the vaccines, blood tests and even inform the patients if they need serious help. For communities that can’t access hospitals, they can make use of these services and get help. These can prevent many premature deaths and a community from succumbing to avoidable diseases. It is highly heroic and selfless to take care of patients in such a manner.

Nurses who hold a DNP can take healthcare a step further. These professionals have specializations that allow them to work with patients in an even closer setting. They can check a patient when a physician is not around, for instance, checking a patient for routine blood work and even blood pressure. They have an understanding of medicines and pills and prescribe medications to the patient. For all primary care settings, nurses can step in. As a result, patients get taken care of, do not miss out on any vital check-ups, and get their medicines. Doctors cannot work without nurses, but nurses have shown how independent they are without doctors.

Nurses play a fundamental role in making records of patient information. The charts they design ensure that the patient’s case is adequately documented and properly recorded by the healthcare sector. In such cases, there is a need for a proper system that would include the format, language, and abbreviations of terminologies. The entire medical sector follows the system nurses design. It is through their comprehensive reports that doctors can provide timely care and support to patients. The system keeps the medical sector concrete and prevents it from crumbling.

Nurses are highly committed to their field. When an emergency strikes or whenever they’re needed, they show up to work. These nurses will push aside any responsibilities they have to make sure the community is taken care of. The dedication and commitment these professionals harbor make them a valuable part of the sector.

Nurses don’t get appreciated enough. They work around the clock. The work they do often means that they need to neglect their personal life and commitments. To push aside your responsibilities and make sure that all patients are cared for is not easy. They will even allow doctors to get priority in PPEs while their life can be at risk. It is safe to say that they are an integral pillar of the healthcare industry. Without their support, the industry will collapse.