Do not take for granted that a nurse will always be there for you

What you need to understand is that decades of cuts means that your nurse today is caring for more patients who are sicker and whose needs are greater than ever before

Dear Public:

I have been mulling over a problem. Perhaps you can help me. I am an RN, employed in a hospital. I have been a nurse for 37 years. I will soon be 60 and plan to retire next year. Even as a young, inexperienced nurse, I received more respect than I do now. As a seasoned veteran with over three decades of experience, I am astonished at the decline in respect accorded to front-line nurses.

When I worked as a new nurse, we didn’t need to wear buttons reminding you to treat us with respect. We didn’t need signs posted everywhere reminding you that abuse, intimidation and threats will not be tolerated.

Back then, I remember a patient noticing how busy I was one evening and inviting me to sit down and take a break. Compare that to a recent interaction I had with a patient’s family member who invaded my personal space, yelling loudly while pointing his finger at me.

What was the source of his anger? His mom was missing a blanket and there were muffin crumbs on the floor of her room. Ask any nurse for a similar story and they will have one to share. What has changed in the past 37 years?

Is it sexism? Approximately 91 per cent of regulated nurses in Canada are women. Each year more men are entering the profession but nursing is still disproportionately female. Does this explain the decline in respect?

Is it racism? Nursing is a more diverse workforce than it was 37 years ago. As a white nurse, I am continually shocked at the degree of verbal abuse directed toward my colleagues who are people of colour. Without these nurses, many of whom are recent immigrants, our health-care system would collapse.

Is it cuts to the front line? We all can agree that waiting in an ER is frustrating. Waiting for pain medication hurts. Waiting for a nurse to answer your call bell takes patience. What you need to understand is that decades of cuts means that your nurse today is caring for more patients who are sicker and whose needs are greater than ever before.

We at the front line have borne the brunt of your frustration. The pandemic has only made it worse.

Is it your access to “knowledge” on the internet that has reduced your respect for us?

In 1984, the general public did not have “Dr. Google” to consult. Today, anti-vaxxers question the knowledge of a scientist with a PhD in immunology. They must think a four-year degree in nursing is equivalent to kindergarten.

This lack of respect for our knowledge base, skills and expertise is discouraging. Don’t get me wrong. As nurses, we want you to be informed about your illness, medications and choices. We welcome your questions. But when we answer them, we deserve a respectful response and your understanding.

One thing is certain. Nurses have had enough. Sick time, stress leaves and early retirements are on the rise. A survey done by RNAO in July points to an “alarming exodus” from the profession. The strain of working through the pandemic, redeployments, short staffing and moral distress created when the work we do is not recognized or valued are all factors.

Like it or not, at some point in your life you are going to need a nurse. Do not take for granted that a nurse will always be there for you.

This worries me. It ought to worry you too.