[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.10.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.10.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.10.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been a nurse most of my adult life.<\/p>\n
For a very long time, I sacrificed birthdays, holidays, weekends, time with my family, vacations, time, sleep, food and even trips to the bathroom to care for others.<\/p>\n
I made the choice to leave my sick children at times so I could care for your family.<\/p>\n
I never chose who to help.<\/p>\n
I never determined if someone deserved more of my care or less. I treated them all. The same.<\/p>\n
I have performed CPR on the grandmother who requested to be a DNR but you made the choice to rescind it.<\/p>\n
I have been there to hold the hand of the dying father whose children never came because it was too much.<\/p>\n
I have cared for the intoxicated man that called me every name under the sun, all while the person he hit is dying in the next room.<\/p>\n
I have cared for the drug addict who relapsed for just one more high.<\/p>\n
I have held the baby who\u2019s mother dropped her off at our ER door never to return.<\/p>\n
I still took care of the person who chose to end their life. The ones who didn\u2019t make it and the ones who survived to regret it.<\/p>\n
I have cared for the child who drowned when no one was watching.<\/p>\n
I have cared for the grandfather who the family refused to \u201cpull the plug\u201d because it would halt the monthly SS checks.<\/p>\n
I have taken care of the patient who made the choice to not manage their insulin.<\/p>\n
I have had compassion for the chronically ill patient who refused to take their medication or manage their disease.<\/p>\n
I took care of the family member who should have had access to hospice but was forced to refuse and never to give up by their family.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve honored the religious choice to deny blood products or other medical care even when it cost their life and I couldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve cared for the homeless mental health patient who continued to refuse help.<\/p>\n
I supported and cared for each one no matter their choices.<\/p>\n
Despite their choices.<\/p>\n
And now I see nurses being threatened, intimidated, fired for their choice. Like their choice doesn\u2019t matter. Like their body autonomy shouldn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n
And now I see healthcare \u201cprofessionals\u201d stating they will not care for people the same because of a choice. Stating they should just let the un – v people die.<\/p>\n
Discrimination based on age, religion, sex, race, color or creed is WRONG.<\/p>\n
And discrimination based on injection status is just as WRONG.<\/p>\n
If you are healthcare professional doing this… STOP. Think about the implications of what you\u2019re saying, doing, proposing.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m not sorry.<\/p>\n
Someone should have said this long time ago.<\/p>\n
*behind the scenes pic of my most recent, last and final travel assignment last summer.<\/p>\n
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I\u2019ve been a nurse most of my adult life. For a very long time, I sacrificed birthdays, holidays, weekends, time with my family, vacations, time, sleep, food and even trips to the bathroom to care for others. I made the choice to leave my sick children at times so I could care for your family. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"