To the student nurses, who are just getting their feet wet and wondering what they’re in for.
For the new grad nurses, whose feet are wet, are still wondering what they’re in for and I’m sorry but what is this on my shoe?
For the experienced nurses, who know better than to look at their shoes any more.
For ortho nurses, who can wrangle anyone into a brace and know how to get you to the bathroom when you’re in a knee immobilizer, a shoulder immobilizer, and two wrist splints.
For cardiac nurses, who can read a rhythm strip from a mile away, are no strangers to pacer pads, and aren’t worried until your run of Vtach hits 20 beats.
For post op nurses, who can identify every drain you know and a few you don’t, who can pop stitches and staples out in 10 seconds without making you flinch, and change a surgical dressing in their sleep.
For med-surg nurses, who will handle the highest ratios and become pros at doling out 120 pills before 9am.
For renal nurses, OR nurses, emergency nurses, observation nurses, palliative and hospice care nurses, home health nurses, wound nurses, PICC nurses, infusion nurses, clinic nurses, nurse practitioners, nursing professors, oncology nurses, critical care nurses, neuro nurses, and the literal hundreds of other nursing specialties I can’t name.
Thank you for all that you do, and all that you will do.