For a kid growing up in and out of hospitals, you see your nurses almost as much as your friends or family. They become more than the men and women keeping you healthy; they become the men and women keeping you sane. I'll be the first to admit that I've snapped on my fair share of nurses for various reasons, and I've always regretted it. They do so much that even we, as the patients, don't see. While they know all of our problems and all of our fears, we are oblivious to theirs.

I've had the extreme privilege to see some of my closest friends and family choose this path for their lives, and to them I say: never take your patients too seriously. For whatever reason they are there, they're scared, they're hurting, and they are uncomfortable. They could be mean, they could be harsh, but always remember that is never because of you. I also urge you to make the most of it. Each patient you see is going to teach you something about yourself. Never take that for granted.

To those of you that are reading this that haven't made nursing your career choice, at one point or another you are going to be under their care. So, to you I say: don't be so quick to snap on them. They're doing their very best. Not only are they taking care of you, but they're also taking care of several other patients. You don't want them to stop caring for you, so don't give them a reason to resent or dread walking into your room.

I am so grateful for those that choose not to be a doctor, because they know me better than my doctors do. I've never met a nurse that wasn't giving his/her all to their job. I've also never met a nurse that would rather be doing anything else than taking amazing care of me or my loved ones.

Thank you, RNs.

Thank you, APRNs.

Thank you NPs.

Thank you for all you do for all of us. I appreciate it, more than you know.