Wishes Nurses Secretly Have (But Rarely Say Out Loud)

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  1. A break that actually includes sitting down and eating.
  2. Bathroom access without a code, key, or four-hour delay.
  3. Patients who answer the call light after you enter the room.
  4. A pen that never walks away. Ever.
  5. Charting that completes itself.
  6. Shoes that defy foot pain and spills.
  7. Families that bring snacks… for the staff.
  8. Doctor’s handwriting that doesn’t need FBI decoding.
  9. Coworkers who refill the printer.
  10. A never-ending supply of coffee — hot, not reheated.
  11. To go one shift without hearing, “While you’re here…”
  12. Patients who actually tell you everything before the meds are given.
  13. IVs that thread perfectly on the first try.
  14. Lifts that work. And batteries that are charged.
  15. Surgeons who say “please” and “thank you.”
  16. An extra pair of hands. Or two.
  17. Scrubs that have more functional pockets than a fishing vest.
  18. Phones that stop ringing when your hands are full.
  19. To be treated like a professional — by patients and coworkers.
  20. To finish a shift with all charting done.
  21. To not be mistaken for housekeeping because you grabbed a mop.
  22. To be called by name, not “Hey, nurse!”
  23. To walk to their car in daylight. Just once.
  24. Patients who say “thank you.” And mean it.
  25. Shift change without chaos.
  26. Supplies in the supply room. Wild, right?
  27. A peaceful code brown-free day.
  28. A patient who’s actually NPO.
  29. A real snow day… without being “essential personnel.”
  30. To hear “You made a difference today.”