Here’s to those who spend endless shifts on their feet. To the EMS workers who bring us the patients, right through to the inpatient nurses who take report from us, even though they are leaving within the hour.

Recently, I had a person say their workout was more intense than my 8 hour shift in the emergency room. I beg to differ. I spend endless hours on my feet because my patients need my attention. They may not want someone taking care of them, but more often than not, they are grateful.

So yes, your hour run on a treadmill may make you worn out, but so does my run to some intensive care unit two buildings away. But here’s the difference. You can go rest after your run on a treadmill. Even though I’m hungry, sweaty, my feet ache, and I have a migraine, my patients still need me. Your run on a treadmill may drain you, but you aren’t emotionally exhausted from giving your all to your patients.

So yes, you may say that your hour long workout is just as grueling as my eight hour emergency room shift, but I at the end of the day have attempted to help someone. You ran on a treadmill. So before you tell me that my career is not as grueling as your workout, remember that I’ll be the one at the head of your bed when you’re sick, or the person consoling you when your family member is sick.

Sincerely,

A nursing assistant who decided to work in the emergency room