I wish someone had told me this when I was still working: You are allowed to protect yourself. To set boundaries. To speak up.

 

Let me share a little of why I started this platform.

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I grew up in a home where love was conditional, safety was rare, and abuse—emotional, verbal, and physical—was part of daily life. That kind of environment doesn’t just hurt you, it shapes you. It teaches you to expect mistreatment, to tolerate pain, and to stay silent to survive. When I entered the nursing profession, I brought that silence with me. What I didn’t understand at the time was that my own wounds had not yet healed and they followed me into my career.

 

I poured my heart into my career. I loved being a nurse. As we all know too well, there are two sides to the profession. In the clinical setting, I often let patients and colleagues mistreat me. I tolerated verbal and physical abuse, emotional manipulation, and threats because in some twisted way, it felt familiar. I normalized being belittled, disrespected, and overworked. I thought that was just part of the job. When I finally spoke up and reached out for support, I wasn’t met with understanding. Instead, I was met with indifference. Once again, like in my childhood years, I felt abandoned, isolated and silenced.

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The toll became too heavy to carry. What began as emotional strain evolved into full-body pain. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Therapy helped me name the trauma, but it didn’t erase the damage. I hope to use my story to advocate for those who are suffering in silence—just like I once was. 

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This platform exists because I know I am not alone. I know too many nurses are still suffering in silence, pushing through trauma because they feel they have no choice or support.

Nurses Forum is here to change that.