Nurses are a very important part of the health system, and one of the key groups of health care professionals that operate in practically every nation on earth. A nurse is involved in the treatment, aid and recovery of sick or injured people, often in hospitals but also in a number of other health care settings. The majority of nurses work directly with patients, although some are also involved in research and other non-clinical fields. Being a nurse can be a taxing profession for anyone, both physically and emotionally. Nurses often have to work long hours and irregular shifts, making coffee an important tool that keeps them on their toes. In hospitals and clinics all over the world, nurses can be seen in their cafeterias and staff rooms – operating a coffee grinder and coffee machine while getting ready to do their important work.
The concept of a ‘nurse’ originated from the role of an alternate breast feeder, when a woman was unable to perform this function herself. After the duties of a nurse expanded and nurses took on more roles and responsibilities, this specific and original function became known as ‘wet nursing’, and became a single part of a much wider role. The original breastfeeding role performed by nurses is perhaps why the profession has always been recognised as a traditionally female one, even in the times since nurses have stopped breastfeeding altogether. Males are slowly becoming more interested in the profession of nursing, as these stereotypes change over time and the role of nursing expands into wider areas. There are many levels of nursing, each of which requires differing degrees of experience and education by student nurses. Training of professional nurses also varies greatly depending on national and regional location.
Nurses perform a wide variety of roles in the health care system, from the initial treatment of incoming patients to the recovery and safety of outgoing patients in their care. Nurses offer physical support to both patients and doctors, by taking care of basic physical tasks so that doctors can rely on their more specialised and technical roles. Nursing also takes place in psychiatric areas, where specially trained nurses work with the mental and emotional as well as the physical support of patients. While nurses are often looked upon by wider society as performing a useful and much needed role in the health care system, their salaries and working conditions do not always reflect this. There have been numerous nursing strikes over the years in an attempt to increase nursing salaries, lower working hours and improve overall conditions.
Simple things like the inclusion of a good coffee machine, quality coffee beans or a microwave oven in the staff room can make nurses’ lives much easier and more productive. Coffee is a fantastic and stimulating drink that is often used by nurses who have to work long hours, including many who work the night shifts that upset the regular circadian rhythms of the body. The nursing profession is sometimes taken for granted among the healthy population who do not see their day to day work. For anyone who has ever needed their help however, nurses are recognised as the backbone of the entire health care system, with a role that should be appreciated in the highest of regard.