When it comes to saving lives, doctors often receive the most recognition, while nurses, assistants, paramedics, and anesthetists are frequently overlooked. After a tough shift, nurse Caitilin Brassington ran into a former high school classmate at the supermarket who remarked, “I didn’t know you were just a nurse…” This comment struck a nerve, prompting Caitilin to write a heartfelt letter.

“I’ve heard this phrase many times in my 18-year career, but today it irritated me more than usual. Was that all I was? JUST a nurse? I’ve helped bring many children into the world, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve held the hands of the dying as they took their last breaths, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve revived patients who were clinically dead and helped them come back to life, but I’m just a nurse. I’ve comforted grieving parents, drawn blood, tended wounds, and missed countless holidays and family events to care for others, but I’m just a nurse. I can resuscitate a newborn, a child, or an adult, and though I’m just a nurse, I take pride in that!”

Caitilin’s letter highlights the essential role nurses play in healthcare, demonstrating their skill, compassion, and dedication to saving lives and caring for patients.