What makes a nurse?

We help to offer comfort, when life just isn’t fair,
We help to calm a crisis, by merely being there,
We help the fallen raise back up, when life has knocked them down,
We share a silent moment, without complaint or frown.
We listen to the worries, that fills a heart with fear,
We hold a hand with comfort, as death draws in so near,
We care for those so vulnerable, and offer hope and care,
With compassion, care and empathy, you’ll find us always there.

Elaine Thompson
August 2020

The poem ‘What makes a nurse’ is written by retired mental health nurse Elaine Thompson and inspired by the multifaced and caring roles of nurses.