Off The Clock RN

We were called heroes.
We showed up day after day, wrapped in layers of PPE, witnessing fear, grief, and unimaginable loss. We held the hands of the dying when families couldn’t be there. We powered through 16-hour shifts, short-staffed and emotionally drained. And when the pandemic headlines started to fade, so did the applause.

Today, we’re expected to move on…as if we didn’t just carry an entire healthcare system on our backs.

But here’s the hard truth many don’t talk about: nursing hasn’t gotten easier since COVID-19. It’s gotten harder.

Hospitals are still short-staffed. Patient loads are heavier. Nurses are burned out and, too often, overlooked.

And the kicker? Those yearly “merit” raises, barely 2 to 3%, don’t even come close to matching the rising cost of living, let alone the level of care, compassion, and resilience we give. We advocate for patients with every ounce of our being… but who’s advocating for us?

It’s disheartening. It’s frustrating. And it can feel incredibly lonely.

But let me remind you: you are not alone.

If you’ve ever sat in your car after a shift, emotionally wrecked and wondering if any of it is worth it, know that I’ve been there too. If you’ve ever questioned your place in a profession, you once loved… me too. You are not weak. You are not selfish. You are human.

We didn’t choose this career for recognition or raises. We chose it because we care deeply. And that doesn’t go away, not even after all we’ve endured.

So, if no one’s said it to you lately:
Thank you. You’re seen. You matter.

Better days are ahead. Whether you stay in the bedside trenches or pivot into a new role, you are allowed to seek joy, balance, and peace. And while we may not get the raise we deserve today, we can raise our voices, lift each other up, and build a community that values what we do.

Let’s be Off the Clock… but never off mission.
💛 Keep going, nurse. You are not alone.