our voices page

As a nurse for over 35 years, I’ve seen many horror stories when it comes to the healthcare system but my experience practicing in rural Georgia opened my eyes to the issues of access to care based on your zip code.

“As a retired NICU nurse with over 40 years of clinical experience, I have been able to deliver compassionate care to many patients who start out as strangers and ultimately become like family. While this work has been deeply rewarding, I have seen how our healthcare system has drifted away from its core mission. One

“Over the past 20 years in healthcare, I have witnessed many heartbreaking stories that have profoundly impacted me. I’ve seen the tragic consequences of nurses’ suicides, enduring workplace violence, and executives prioritizing bonuses over essential care. Yet, the most devastating experience of all was losing a patient—a neighbor and dear friend. My friend, Candace, wrote

“I was a charge nurse for many years. I worked in a very busy, short-staffed labor and delivery unit. The ratio of patients should be 1:2 or 1:1 depending on the acuity of the patient. As charge nurse, I would have to take patient assignments also, at most one time, I had 6 patients as

“The hospital cut 70% of the IV team, leaving a few of us to cover too much and patients to suffer. Floor nurses were already overwhelmed and forced to do IV insertions – many unprepared – causing delays, pain and repeated sticks. Admin said it was about the budget, but it was really about cutting

“I was a charge nurse on the 3–11 shift in a medical-surgical unit. One of my aides (male) threatened to be waiting for me after shift 3–11 PM to “get me.” Apparently, he was very angry because I reported him for not caring for patients properly—he was much too rough. I did not want him

“It is difficult to decide upon a single example of an unforgettable and devastating story. John Doe was a 42-year-old Black male. He came to the Emergency Department for treatment of “bad heartburn”. He denied any medical history though it was determined he was having a heart attack. Unfortunately, our facility lacked the necessary medical