Who Are the Real Heroes of Health Care?

Some people think of doctors or other health careers as heroes. Of all the health careers, I feel as if nurses are the most heroic. I believe this because of several reasons.

The first reason is that nurses do all of the dirty work. They clean and change bed sheets, change bed pans, give patients sponge baths, and clean the rooms once the patients are discharged. This may not seem so bad to you, but think about it. How would you feel after a twelve hour shift doing all of those things?

The next way that I perceive a nurse to be heroic is because he or she has to put up with the doctors, patients, and the patients' families. First, the doctors. They think that they can boss the nurses around like they are nothing. The nurses also have to read their handwriting, which is a reason all on its own. Next, the patients. They are not always full of sunshine. The patients can treat the nurses as slaves and tell them to do the most ridiculous things, such as change the channel for me or fluff my pillows. The only thing that is more terrible than patients is the patient's family. They feel that since their loved ones are in the hospital, they should get everything no matter what that may be. They also want it done that second regardless of the other things that the nurse has to do or accomplish. Did you know that the nurses aren't permitted to talk back to these people either? They have to do this all with a pleasant attitude and a smile on their face or their job may be at stake.

Lastly, they make everyone's job easier. If it weren't for nurses, someone else would have to transport patients to and from labs, give patients their medication, and everything else nurses do. If it weren't for nurses everyone's lives would be more hectic.

These are the reasons that I feel nurses are heroes. They do all the dirty work, they have to put up with everyone and everything, and they do the jobs that no one else is willing to do. So, what do you think, are nurses heroes?