Brockton Nurses' Strike

To whom it may concern,

Two months ago, I was desperately seeking help to overcome an addiction to prescription pain killers I was on for a ruptured disc in my back. The doctors who had prescribed the drugs over the previous 1-1/2 yrs literally abandoned me when I went to them for help. My own primary care physician wrote me one last prescription and wished me luck. At this time, I had started a new job and was having trouble getting the required insurance information to get treatment. Finally, when I got all the insurance info, I went to the Brockton Hospital on my way home from work that Friday night. I spoke with a psychiatric nurse about my problem and she convinced me (unbeknownst to her) to seek further help. The next day (Saturday), I went to the Brockton Hospital Emergency Room out of desperation to seek help to kick my habit. I was ashamed to explain to the nurse who took my information why I was there. I managed to spit it out after explaining to her that I was ashamed to admit why I was there. Without batting an eye, she told me that my problem was extremely common and there was nothing to be ashamed about. I went on to talk in person to a psychiatric nurse who's reasoning convinced me to check myself into NORCAP. Four days later, I was out of NORCAP cold turkey, and I have beat the devil at his own game. Granted, I wasn't the typical "off the street" addict, but I was an addict none the less. If it wasn't for the fact that the nurses at the Brockton Hospital talked and listened to me as the intelligent person I know I am, I certainly wouldn't have followed their recommended course of action as I did.

I am thoroughly convinced that their training and commitment to their jobs allowed them to see my desperation and their devotion and dedication to their profession compelled each and every one of them who treated me to invest more of themselves than could ever be expected for the amount of pay they receive. Furthermore, I can unequivocally state that I am alive today because of the time and the words of wisdom these nurses gave to me in my greatest time of need, not to mention the "mothering" I received from those awesome but nameless nurses at NORCAP.

It is impossible to overstate the contribution that nurses make to medicine. It's easy for a doctor to ignore the contribution that nurses make to his or her reputation. Pity the doctor who has to perform all of the required medical duties himself without the aid of nurses. We are all aware of the effects that managed care and malpractice insurance costs have had on the earnings of doctors. But like any profession, the actions of a few effect the many. As a structural engineer, I find it hard to justify the disparity of earnings between two professions who's decisions potentially effect many lives. But doctors can bill insurance companies, structural engineers rarely get that opportunity.

Doctors and hospital administrators need to wake up and smell the coffee. Without qualified nurses, medicine is poised to take a giant leap backwards. Doctors simply can't afford to perform all required tasks themselves and hospitals can't afford to pay the high price and low quality for scabs to take over for the experienced nurses to break the strike. Medical care will suffer as a result, and it won't be the nurses who take the blame. The Brockton Hospital needs to smarten up quick !!!

BPC
Locally

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