Thinking about the time an elderly lady who was completely out of breath but not complying with NIV. We tried counselling, her 40yo som pleaded with her, asked us to use restraints - she wasn’t having any of that. One of the nurses spoke to her for almost an hour while doing what

she was required to do for 2 other ICU patients. She told me she had managed to convince her to try to keep a loose-fitting mask on. We put on an NRBM, still hypoxic, obviously. The nurse kept on trying to convince her for the NIV for her own good. The lady pulled her NRMB down

coughed loudly and hurled spit on the nurse. It hit her PPE. She wiped it off and thanked the women for putting her NRBM back on, left to attend another patient. In minutes the women called the nurse, cried, apologised, agreed to be put on NIV. She was discharged after 3 weeks.

Nursing is a demanding yet thankless job. If you’ve cared for any sick person, you know what it’s like. Imagine choosing to do that every single day. They deserve every recognition, and more. They’re taken for granted by practically every healthcare facility and by their patients

Even TV shows show doctors doing things that nurses do. Quality patient care = skilled nursing care. Nurses pick up on things because they’re with patients all the time. They’ll even teach doctors a thing or two without you asking if they see you struggling. Nurses are pure