Nurses deserve all the respect they can get

By Lethbridge Herald on May 24, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

“If caring was enough, anyone could be a nurse.” 

That was the slogan of a radio ad for a campaign to persuade people to pursue nursing as careers, during a U.S. shortage when I was at university in the 1980s and 90s. National Nursing Week has concluded here in Canada, and I’m always reminded of that slogan on such occasions and whenever issues involving nurses come up.

While caring and compassion are essential qualities for nurses, they’re not the only requirements for becoming a nurse. A nurse’s role also requires a wide range of skills, knowledge, and experience, which are acquired through specialized education and training.

My mother was a pediatric nurse for more than 40 years. My younger sister was in the U.S. Army Nursing Corps and now works for the Veterans Administration (VA). My late maternal aunt was also a career nurse. A significant number of my aunts and numerous cousins (both female and male) are nurses. You could say it runs in the family. Why didn’t I become one myself? I didn’t have what it takes in two key areas. I’m too hot-blooded and I get squeamish around blood (which is arguably an occupational hazard in the profession). 

Effective nurses require a diverse set of specialized training and knowledge, encompassing both technical and psychosocial skills. They need to understand the principles of health and illness, disease pathophysiology, health promotion, and the health care systems themselves, as well as be adept at applying critical thinking, evidence-based practices, and continuous learning.

While nurses often earn good salaries, especially with advanced certifications, nursing is frequently described as a “calling” or a passion for helping others. This view emphasizes the intrinsic motivation and satisfaction that comes from caring for patients and serving the community, rather than solely focusing on financial compensation.

This is important because nurses face numerous challenges (right out of nursing school) in their daily work, including long shifts, physical demands, potential for exposure to illness, and the stress of high-pressure situations. 

Additionally, issues like workplace violence, difficult patients and the constant need for professional development contribute to the difficulties nurses encounter.

There’s a saying: “Nurses are taken for granted until you really need them.” This highlights the often underestimated value of nurses in the health care system. While nurses are rarely recognized for their crucial role in patient care, they are indispensable when health issues arise and expertise is required. 

I could also write volumes about their treatment at the hands of the provisional government, but I do have a word limit. 

Nurse burnout has always been a multifaceted issue with interconnected causes, including high workload, long shifts, lack of support, poor work environments, and emotional strain from patient care. Systemic issues like staffing shortages and the increasing demand for nursing professionals also contribute to burnout. And that was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2024 survey conducted with 5,595 nurses practicing in Canada by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) found that nine in ten nurses registered some amount of burnout

Nurses are and will always be a vital foundation of the health care system, acting as the backbone of care. They make up a significant portion of the healthcare workforce and are frequently the first and only point of contact for patients. They should be recognized year-round and not just during National Nursing Week.