Nurses are vital in our society. From working in schools to emergency rooms, and your
local clinic, nurses are necessary for our society to function as a whole. November 12 to 18 is
National Nurse Practitioner Week, which not only celebrates nurses but also those who are certified
to work without the supervision of a doctor.
Being a nurse isn’t an easy or simple job. Nurses are subject to long shifts, working for
hours on end without a break. They must also be flexible, as their schedules can change at a
moment’s notice. Not to mention the emotional involvement nurses allow themselves to
experience, and the exposure to different chemicals and illnesses they deal with on the daily. The
next time a nurse treats you, make sure to realize that they’ve been through all these difficulties
and still attend to you with a smile. Being a nurse requires strength, and we owe it to them to be
grateful.
So, how exactly can we help our nurses?
You can directly donate to organizations such as the NPAA
(https://albertanps.com/product/donate-to-the-npaa/) if you wish to directly help. Donating
allows the NPAA to advocate for nurses in Alberta and support them that way. Nurses House is
also another foundation that supports nurses ( https://donate.nurseshouse.org ) who are struggling
with their health or finances. Nurses do so much for us that it only seems right to give back to
them.
If you aren’t able to donate money, there are still many ways to help nurses. The first
thing you can do, which was mentioned earlier, is show respect to your nurses whenever you find
yourself in need of their help. Basic respect can often go a long way, and after a long shift,
showing kindness is one way to show gratitude toward our nurses. Something else you can do is
be aware of your health. Often hospitals and nurses can experience a lack of staffing, and
if you’re able to safeguard your health and take care of yourself, you’ll be able to lessen
your workload (not to mention that taking care of your health is always a good thing!).
Our nurses deserve the world for their hard work, and through small actions, we can help
them out and create a better attitude toward nurses and what they do! The next time you visit the
hospital, keep all this in mind; it’s the least that we can do!
Ten Things You Can Do to Support Nurses, Website,
https://blog.aarp.org/thinking-policy/ten-things-you-can-do-to-support-nurses, Rushton, 2023
