Dear Readers: So many of you wrote in about the nurse column, and I truly appreciate your feedback and your service. Nursing is one of the most vital professions, and nurses deserve both respect and protection for the critical work they do.

Below are two perspectives from fellow nurses.

Dear Annie: As a fellow veteran nurse, I wanted to share my perspective. I appreciate your acknowledgment of the hard work nurses do, but I feel that your response missed a critical point. While it is important to consider the emotions of a patient’s family, it is equally vital to recognize the challenges nurses face daily.

We dedicate ourselves to providing the best care possible, following strict protocols and procedures that are not always understood by those outside the profession. However, being berated or cornered by a patient or their family is unacceptable.

Nurses should not have to endure mistreatment while simply doing their jobs.

Many of us have experienced the emotional toll of patient complaints, often despite doing everything in our power to provide quality care. The health care system is stretched thin, and post-pandemic, nurses are facing increasing hostility, verbal abuse and even physical threats. The ongoing nursing shortage is not just about workload; it is also about the lack of respect and support we receive.

I hope this sheds light on another side of the conversation and encourages a deeper understanding of what nurses endure.

We are doing our best in a system that is struggling, and I ask that more people recognize and support the caregivers who are at the heart of patient care. — Another Nurse

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Ask Me Anything: A Year of Advice From Dear Annie” is out now! Annie Lane’s debut book — featuring favorite columns on love, friendship, family and etiquette — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.