Ignited

It has been decades since nurses have come together as a force to be reckoned with. And what is most interesting is that while the scattered rumbling was the same globally it took a thoughtless public comment from a television character to set the profession ablaze. In three days, the world of nursing, paramedics, CNAs, physicians, physician assistants and even our precious housekeepers have gained an audible voice. It is clear that we are at the end of our rope, the last nerve has been struck, we are bold, hear us roar.

I have never been more invigorated than during this last few days. I have been in healthcare for more than 40 years in some role and spent another 10 years wanting to be. It is wonderful to step outside the walls of the daily grind to hear the focus of the conversation be on the work. Not on all the things wrong with the job, but on the primary, prevailing reason we are all still in the profession. It is the passion, compassion and deep desire to care. Care for the injured, sick and dying. We are proud of the countless hours of overtime spent advocating, helping, comforting, resuscitating, acting in the interest of our patient.

Complete strangers cause us to lose sleep, grieve, celebrate, sigh, laugh, yell, grumble, cry, smile. And we gratefully wake up to do it again, over and over. Despite long hours, deplorable pay, no breaks, less than desirable staffing, obstacles in language, lack of supplies, not enough time, we show up and we find our reward. It is not in the check but in the fruit of our labor. We go home having survived the day, completing all that is needed to assure our patients have what they need, And we are satisfied because we know we did our best and this helped others. Our reward is most often in knowing we did it, and we did it well.

Needless to say when we get a compliment, card, kind word or report to a leader about our effort this is icing on our cake. It is amazing when we get that extra kudos though we don’t expect it. And sometimes there is that unhappy patient or family, that while their words may burn, it is most often a minor sting as we trudge into the next room to start it all over again.

So out on the stage of the Miss America pageant walks this beautiful, blonde, with a passion to give a voice to the masses. I doubt she expected that the voice would evolve in the way it did, but I also don't think the profession would have gained the momentum had it not been for the comments of those daytime talk show ‘employees’.

While it is not wrong to have an opinion, it is never desirable to insult what you clearly don't understand. They mocked her talent, a monologue on nursing. They mocked her dress, the uniform of a nurse. They mocked her stethoscope, the thing we use most to determine the course of life. They mocked her words, a real human story about an epidemic disease of aging. They mocked nursing. And the nurses roared.

In hallways, social media sites, meetings, news outlets the word and message has traveled that we ARE professional, we ARE talented, we ARE the monologue worth hearing. Photos, over 5000 today of proud healthcare providers and patients with uniforms, stethoscopes and stories to provide confirmation that we are indeed a real life drama series, running 24/7 around the globe. We sacrifice so much time, energy, family time, emotion that we cannot sacrifice the perception of our worth. And we should not.

As of today several sponsors have pulled their support of the show. The apologies of the employees of the tv show were less than sincere and actually implied it was the nurses fault for not seeing it their way. The challenge would actually seem to be that those tv employees need to see it our way, see things from the view of a nurse. Maybe, just maybe, those employees would come walk in the shoes of some of the folks they referred to as ‘just nurses’. Maybe they would understand why we rise up for this one thing, respect. I know it will never happen, but wouldn't that be glorious?

As a footnote to the media firestorm, today Ellen Degeneres had Miss Colorado on her show. She not only honored her for her pageant accomplishment but also acknowledged the trending social media related to her monologue. Miss Colorado said it is her talent and she wanted to use the platform to give a voice to those that otherwise do not have opportunity. She wanted to give a voice to nurses.
The question now remains, what will we do with the energy, unity, fire that is igniting the nursing and healthcare community? Will we be able to stand together for the common purpose of improving patient care, outcomes and working conditions or will we fall back into ambiguity. I hope the renewed pride in our profession will carry on, paying it forward to the nursing generation behind us.

World Peace

That's right, it is found here on this planet. It is not on the evening news, in the slur of opposing candidates, in the disparity in religion, in the hateful crime against humanity. It is in the hearts of those who see all as friends, as equals, despite color, country or party. I have spoken of it at times in small images with groups of 5 or 10 or 20. I have imagined that if only they could be seen and if they could be used as examples the human race would see each other through very different eyes.

I have watched this world walk away, around or into these beacons of joy while mocking them for their lack of. Lack of money, work, words, skill, ability. Yet this beautiful sea of smiles and hugs sees past that hurt and anger, and embraces them all anyway if they can. It is not that they don't know that people are being mean, it is that it doesn't matter really. They might experience hurt feelings but in most cases quickly resolve to solve the cruelty by giving back something that frankly, others don't deserve. They operate out of grace and mercy.

World Peace happened in LA, is that possible? It happened at the Special Olympics World Games. 7000 athletes from 170 countries with 30000 volunteers and twice as many supporters. And there was joy. While I was whining about heat and long lines, my son stood patiently. While I wanted to sit down, my son stood patiently. My son stood, patiently, as did 1000's of others. They waited out of excitement, in the presence of their friends whether they knew them or not. I blamed, slurred, criticized while he stood quietly. I apologized and he forgave me. "It's alright mom,  I love you!"

World Peace as we watched the masses collecting for the games while we danced. They danced with us or stood by us or held our hands or sat near us. They celebrated, they smiled, laughed, hugged, helped each other though complete strangers. World peace happened at the games. And I am still full of humility and tears. It was a glimpse of what God intended when he put us in place and we wait with anticipation to live in that state of joy again. If only for a moment I am certain we saw God smile.

I have been the mom who wants to tell you everything her son accomplishes. I realize this as I have just spent a lot of money to see the first two years of my sons life moved from VHS to digital. And do you know what I saw, what I now realize I forced my loved ones to endure.....nothing. Hours of an adorable baby dressed in a variety of adorable clothes doing absolutely nothing. But WOW he sure could do it well. Now as an adult, 19, he has eclipsed my wildest dreams and makes me incredibly proud every day. He is my World Peace.

He has been surrounded by amazing family, friends, teachers, mentors and absolute strangers who have watched him grow, who see his actions, who admire his kindness. World Peace can happen. So here are a few glimpses from the games. If you didn't take the time to watch, find the links on Youtube, It is inspiration times a zillion from the founding of the Special Olympics, Best Buddies and Unified Sports to the meaning it brings to those athletes and the world.