Two weeks ago, a Washington state senator made the comment that nurses have enough free time that they probably play cards for most of the day.

The outrage was immediate. The woman who made the statement received over 10,000 emails and 35,000 phone calls protesting her comments–not to mention thousands and thousands of decks of playing cards.

I’ve had the privilege to know many nurses throughout my life. There isn’t a single one who seemed to have enough spare time to do any personal tasks during their shift–let alone to sit and play cards all day.

I’m writing this from the ICU of a hospital in Scranton, PA, where my mother has been hospitalized for about a week with a serious case of pneumonia. Every single member of the nursing staff (and we’ve met quite a few) has been not just highly competent and responsive, but warm and caring, too. There is no doubt in our minds that they are a huge part of the reason my mother is recovering so well.

This week is National Nurse’s Week. Why not take the time to send some cards to your favorite nurses? Not the playing card kind, but the Hallmark type that say thank you–we appreciate you.

Or maybe just send a text or leave a voice message. Most of them are so busy they may not even have time to read a card.

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