I delayed this for two reasons. First, because it was Easter weekend and I didn’t want anything taking the focus off of that. And secondly, because I needed time. We all needed time. Immediate responses are usually driven by anger or sadness, and that is what I am sure you have already realized. I wanted my response to driven by more positive actions. By nurse-like actions. Truth. Passion. Compassion.
Senator Walsh, I am sure by now that you have realized that you made a mistake. Even though you have yet to apologize for your comments, I believe that you see the flaws in your statements. Your defense of your words and actions are what bothers me and many other nurses more than your initial statements. You began by stating that your mother was an RN and that you respect the profession. While your comments show an utter lack of respect for the profession and complete ignorance to the struggles of the nurse working in critical access hospitals. You later stated that you were tired and said some things that you shouldn’t have. We have all said things that we didn’t mean when we were tired. But, that isn’t the context you used. The fact that you most likely witnessed your mother come home exhausted many days or nights after a shift and still chose to comment in the fashion you did, is heartbreaking.
Senator Walsh, I believe by now, you have learned that you never go into an intelligent and educated debate using the word “probably.” This implies that you do not know. That you are unsure. This is evident. You do not know what nurses do. You do not know what happens in critical access hospitals. If you would have taken the time to educate yourself, prior to, you would have come to realize that many of these facilities are under-staffed. Many of the nurses are over-worked, under-paid, and at times, placed in dangerous nurse-to-patient ratios. Some facilities even offer additional incentives to nurses who agree to work in areas such as these for a contracted amount of time. This is because it is harder to staff facilities in rural areas. Sometimes, the nurses on duty are working the role of the nurse, nurse-tech or CNA, the pharmacy, environmental services, etc. They are often pulled to float to many areas of the facility with little to no orientation to those units. They ARE the hospital, not just the ER nurse or Med-Surg nurse.
Senator Walsh, by now, I hope you have realized that nurses will come for you! I do not mean in a violent or even defensive way, like some of the memes have suggested. Many of those have been very funny to most people, but that isn’t what I mean. Despite your comments, a nurse will come for you. One day, when you are the patient, and you will be as we all will, a nurse will come for you. When you are scared, alone, and don’t understand the diagnosis, it will be a nurse that comes for you. When you are in pain, it will be the nurse that comes for you to help with your pain relief. We will leave our babies, sleeping quietly in their beds, to come for you. We will miss family time, graduations, weddings, and funerals to come for you. We will even risk our own lives, being subjected to assault and verbal and physical abuse, even to the point of death….to come for YOU. We will come for you, because that is the heart of nursing. It is what we do. More importantly, it is who we ARE. It is our calling to come for the priest, teacher, police officer, maintenance worker, service member, local drug dealer, murderer, thief, and rapist. We come for everyone. Even the misguided politician. And one day, when you need a nurse, it is my prayer that all of my fellow nurses will answer to the higher calling within themselves, fold the hand they have been dealt, and come for you.
Go fish,
Ashley A.G. Griffin, MSN, BSN, RN
Nurse, Nursing Educator and Mentor, and friend of Nurses everywhere
Bless you. Such a soulful response. Well done!
Hello Debra! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!