Are nurses angels of mercy?
Although the Center appreciates positive comments about nurses, we believe that the image of the “angel” or “saint” is generally unhelpful. It fails to convey the college-level knowledge base, critical thinking skills, and hard work required to be a nurse. And it may suggest that nurses are supernatural beings who do not require decent working conditions, adequate staffing, or a significant role in health care decision-making or policy. If nurses are angels, then perhaps they can care for an unlimited number of patients and still deliver top-quality care. To the extent nurses do seem to suffer in such working conditions, it may be viewed as merely evidence of their angelic virtue, not a reason to alter the conditions. In the popular imagination, angels are often distinguished by their spiritual purity or their gentle nature, but this is not enough for nursing or any other serious profession. Indeed, patient advocacy may require that nurses firmly challenge an established system or prop
