In April 2019, a Washington State senator denounced a bill to allow uninterrupted lunch breaks for nurses and stated that nurses “probably play cards for a considerable amount of the day.” Not surprisingly, the senator was faced with much opposition from nurses across the nation, refuting her ignorance and false claims.
After the initial anger from the comments died down, nurses “playing cards” became a joke as memes and apparel were created in reference to the comment.
Nurses are lucky to get a 30 minute lunch break in a 13-hour shift, let alone sitting at the station and playing card games. However, I was laughing at myself during my previous night shift because I did end up playing cards.. Rummy and UNO (in case you’re curious).
I had a patient who was on enhanced safety precautions due to suicidal ideation. She was medically cleared and just waiting for psychiatric placement. She repeatedly said she was just so lonely and asked any staff members to play cards with her.
Typically, requests like this are hard to fill due to short staffing and other duties being priority. I was lucky to actually have some time and it was a “quiet” night shift. We played multiple rounds of cards together throughout the night.
This is patient-centered care. No staff member had to play with her even if they had time. Extra activities and requests such as this are often unable to be completed due to the nature of healthcare. It is moments like playing cards with a patient, braiding their hair, taking a patient down to the lobby to play the piano, etc. that remind us of our why’s of nursing.
No, I did not get into nursing to play cards all day, but the shifts that I can fulfill a patient request, are the shifts that keep me at the bedside.
Until next shift,
Shania