I hope you can excuse me a second while I get on my soap box *pushes a very large soap box into the light…because you know… I’m all of 4’11” and no one can ever see me*.

How many times has the phrase “I’m just the…(your title)” slipped out of your mouth? When someone asked you something or asked what you do, how many times did you say “Oh, I’m just the nurse/EMT/CNA/secretary?”

Have you ever considered how this phrase is demeaning to your role in healthcare? How often do we compare our roles to those of others?

• RNs versus Paramedics
• RNs versus LPNs
• EMTs versus CNAs
• Nurse practitioners versus Physician assistants

We crack jokes sure about what the role of XYZ healthcare employee does. Lovingly, I have called my EMS cohorts “ambulance drivers” or “stretcher fetchers” while they call me “doctor helper” or “butt wiper.” But how often do we actually see conversations online or hear in-person how XYZ healthcare employee is “useless” or somehow less than? I know I can’t go a day on an EMS joke page on Facebook without seeing CNA cracks.

How does this look to our consumers, though? To see us behaving like this? Would you feel comfortable with that if you were a patient? Probably not.

Healthcare is broad and dynamic–it encompasses a great deal of collaboration between all members to ensure quality care that is efficient and safe. No matter how small, each person has a role.

I’m going to be frank– the custodian is as important as the CEO. Those small, seemingly insignificant contributions to the system are cumulative and critical to day to day operations. Infection control and patient outcomes can be effected by something as simple as proper disinfection by a housekeeper.

So knowing that everything we contribute is small cog to a larger machine, would you still consider yourself “just a…”?

CNAs–you provide the care needed to enhance the quality of life of your patients/clients. You matter.

EMTs–whether you run on the 911 ambulance or simply interfacility runs, you are a crucial step in saving lives and preserving health. You matter.

LPNs, RNs, Paramedics– each of you have training that makes the difference in both chronic and acute patients. No one can expect you to master everything but you give what you know your all. You matter.

I think it’s time we stop degrading other professions simply because “we can do XYZ and they can’t” or “they didn’t know what to do in an emergency.” Understand we all have our training and our roles and instead of being degrading–teach. Take the time to make faulty practices teachable moments. How can they improve in the future?

So whoever you are, where ever you are, and whatever you do–you matter. Healthcare is a team that needs every member. You are never “just a”–you are “a” or “the”. Be proud of whatever you do because you are never “less than”–simply “different than.”

Clear skies and tail winds.