Here's to

To the nurse who knows there are no more ventilators left and their patient will die by morning.

To the nurse who was fired for wearing their own mask.

To the nurse who has been told they’ll be written up for not adhering to hospital policy.

To the nurse who catches a glimpse of the freezer truck parked out back that is being used as morgue overflow.

To the nurse who has been told they can trust policy because it’s based on, “CDC guidelines.”

To the nurse who has worked 4, 5, 6, 7 consecutive, 12 hour shifts.

To the nurse who is supposed to get married soon.

To the nurse who has a spouse also on the front lines.

To the nurse who was verbally assaulted on their way to work.

To the nurse who hasn’t hugged or kissed their family in weeks.

To the nurse who has no c***dcare but must report to work.

To the nurse who is pregnant and feels guilty for not accepting COVID cases.

To the nurse who watches some people on the outside defy social distancing recommendations.

To the nurse who just graduated and is in their first year of nursing.

To the nurse who is a single parent and has had to send their k** away to live with relatives.

To the nurse who only sheds tears in the shower so that it can drain with the water

To the nurse who only sheds tears in the shower so that it can drain with the water.

To the nurse who is skilled in operating the ventilators.

To the nurse who wonders what was the point of all those ethics papers back in nursing school

To the nurse who was told they no longer need an m 95, "per the CDC."

To the nurse who filled out their Advance Directive- Medical POA after a tough shift.

To the nurse who’s 25-year old abdominal pain patient was found to have ground-glass opacities on the CT.

To the nurse who realizes none of the team wore PPE, since abdominal pain was not part of the criteria.

To the nurse who was just handed their one mask for the day, for the week.

To the nurse who backs away for the last time, as time of death is called.

To the nurse who wonders if this is how they treat, “heroes.”

Every day, you write you names and the date on your face masks and eye shields. Every day, you show up stronger, more capable, and braver than the day before. Not just for your patients, but for one another.