When Will the Sun Sleep?
Imagine the sun.
Every morning, it writes its golden script across the sky, illuminating the world, selflessly embracing all forms of life, guiding us from the dark depths of our sleep towards happiness.
After a long day, the sun fades– even the sun gets a break when night falls.
I sat at the secretary desk, watching the remnants of blushed raspberry orange disappear behind navy clouds. Despite the world falling asleep, the beeping of monitors, the shuffling of feet and the whispering of nurses never ceases. The entire hospital floor is in a perpetual state of motion, a flurry of scrubs, lab samples, and gurneys.
A nurse stood outside of a patient room, putting on brand new scrubs while speaking to another nurse about the status of a patient. Her shoulders slightly hunched, her hair unraveling from a tightly wounded bun, and the bags under her eyes looked like craters in the moon.
Her 12 hour night shift wasn't even close to being over.
Suddenly, the echo of elastic gloves snapping to her hands and a swift knock on the patient’s door caused a shift in the nurse's demeanor and expression. The lines in her face softened, her skin began to glow, and a delicate, warm smile graced her face. She became an angel.
The door swung open and the nurse’s cheerful, sing-song voice resounded through the hallway. I could see the patient’s face light up at the sight of her, the nurse’s smile healing his gloomy mood. Her voice carried a gentle mirth as she asked each patient how their day was.
“My darling!! How are you??...”
“....Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately I can’t administer your pain medication yet.”
“...I’m just going to fix this pillow right here, okay? Thanks sweetheart!”
After gently shutting the hefty, gray door of the room, her entire body loses its composure as a wave of exhaustion settles in. Suddenly, the golden radiance she emulated washed away, replaced by sunken eyebags, distressed face lines, and a willowy frame– the effects of shining too hard for too long.
But then, she shook her head out of its stupor, bounced cheerfully to the next room, and greeted the patient.
I thought I had imagined it, but after volunteering extensively in clinical settings, it is clear that there is a drastic emotional toll to being in healthcare. While taking care of others, no one can take care of nurses.
The issue of providing medical professionals with adequate mental health resources and reasonable hours is glaring to those within the field, but sometimes, the outside turns a blind eye. The nurses seem fine, so why should they prolong their patient care for mental issues that are not visible? It is an easy problem to overlook in the delicate, complex tapestry of healthcare.
These compassionate souls tirelessly navigate the turbulent seas of human suffering, their empathy and resilience serving as a beacon in the darkest hours. As they bear this burden for others, it is time we acknowledge the profound toll on their own mental health.
The part that shocks me the most is this: when you ask the nurses why they do this, they give you a tired, far away smile, with glimmers of happiness and dreams reached, and simply say “I want to.”
It is incumbent upon us, as a society that has relied on their support, to weave a safety net for these tireless caregivers, fostering an environment where mental health is prioritized, stigmas are shattered, and there is unfailing support with reservation. In caring for our healers, we fortify the foundations of our healthcare system, ensuring a resilient future for all.
It’s time for us to be suns for them.