Our voice matters

I’m sharing this with you—not for sympathy—but because I wish someone had told me this when I was still working: You are allowed to protect yourself. To set boundaries. To speak up.

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 and isolated.

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. Even the idea of returning to a hospital setting triggered a visceral response in me and caused frequent panic attacks. Eventually, I had to accept the heartbreaking truth: I could no longer work as a nurse. I may never wear scrubs again, but I hope to use my story to advocate for those who are suffering in silence—just like I once was.

Speak up. Set boundaries. Ask for help. Don’t ignore the signs—emotional exhaustion, resentment, dread—those are not just “part of the job.” That is your mind and body asking for care. And if your workplace doesn’t support you, that’s not a reflection of your worth—it’s a failure of the system, and that is what I want to change.

Your voice has power. If you’ve ever felt broken, ignored, overwhelmed, or unseen in your role as a nurse—this space is for you. Whether you're still working, on leave, or have walked away from the profession like I did, your story matters.

This is a safe space to share the real side of nursing—the part we don’t always talk about. The burnout. The trauma. The moments we almost gave up. And the strength it takes to keep going, or to walk away.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE and your truth could be the lifeline someone else needs.