Nurse John - the Canadian TikToker using humour to highlight challenges of the job - BBC News

Canadian nurse John Dela Cruz joined TikTok during the Covid pandemic, when he saw a video on the platform asking people to post about undervalued professions.
He filmed a short video and went viral overnight. He now has 3.5 million followers.
As nurses strike in New York City and in the UK, he continues to channel humour as he highlights the challenges of the profession.
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[@cchang93cc]

When he said he misses going to work and helping people but what he doesn't miss is what he will come back to because the situation is still the same - I felt that.

[@cherylco2487]

you rested and collected yourself but you will go tru burn out again after coming back to work

[@SproutingofSpring]

🙏🏻 Salute to all of you.... Thanks be to God for being a public servant. Just always remember that it's a pleasure to serve God & the humanity, you are all blessings to humanity... Thank you for a Million times for à Priceless Job......❤️❤️

[@DrawheatJustabme]

That's because you have the Queen on your side. I have. And I don't. Know how to meditate. I do believe in the power of suffering. I need hormones but not enough turn into a dude.

[@nursebondemcanada]

😢

[@rosered3608]

Some people are natural caregivers.

[@angiedefreitas5060]

You don't have to be in the profession to love Nurse John; he's so relatable.

[@nursebondemcanada]

True

[@theceech]

really i had no clue

[@user-xd2nr]

❤your 1000th like 🎉

[@Booboonancy]

I’m a retired OB/NICU RN and I can’t imagine working in nursing these days. To say that it is a hard job is an understatement. The responsibility is huge, yet you are constantly working understaffed, or with mostly new grads ( not their fault ), with missing or broken equipment and the shifts often pour into overtime because, well, all heck breaks loose in the last hour. I wish him well.

[@morissalan3397]

Well said Nancy, Hope you are having a wonderful day so far?

[@dwilson6769]

You'd be appalled by how little training we are receiving as well. Since electronic documentation took over, the nurses are getting barely any patient care training or bedside training. All admin cares about is charting and they put more on us every day so they can send out lies to the insurance company. How can anyone legally do that? It takes at leat 10 minutes to check a blood sugar and give insulin. It takes a while to do vitals and a head to toe assessment. Yet they pile 42 or more into a facility and staff them with skeleton crews. The hospital has improved some but again, what kind of training besides electronic. They way people are takes care of today is far worse than that of the 1950s.

[@NadiaPink]

Why is it all hell breaks literally most of the time the last hour? Smh

[@pedinurse1]

What gets me is that they tell you that as an RN you cannot diagnose. However, they ask diagnostic questions on the NCLEX all the time, and on the floor they want you to know as much as the doctors. But if you say anything different you are odd man out.

[@Booboonancy]

@@NadiaPink LOL, I suppose it depends what kind of nursing you do but in my case, I think it’s a curse 🤦‍♀️

[@amapolapoppy8883]

I love nurse John and I constantly share his content. I'm not a nurse but let me tell you being short staffed is something A LOT of companies and their staff can relate too.

[@solosoyuna7784]

Yes this! Sad that hospitals and clinics are ran the same tho 🤯

[@christins.1481]

I'm not a nurse either. It's honestly sad seeing one nurse handling 7 patients. That alone is putting the patients health at risk because that one worker is going to have burnout and is going to make way more mistakes than they should and not because they're bad at their job but simply because the brain is shutting down from so much work.

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

Most of us can definitely understand being short staffed. The problem with nursing is that being short staff can lead to the death of patients. I had surgery this past summer and almost died because the nurse on duty kept ignoring my frantic calls to help me get up. I finally had to do so myself, fell, and severely hurt my head. They had ONE janitor on duty and she came by, found me, and helped me. Then she cursed out the nurse in Spanish, which I truly appreciated.

[@Puuws]

sure sure but I do think that that pressure of having lives depending on you, makes the stress more acute and you cant draw boundries. You cant refuse to work bc safety is lacking understaffed like in other jobs, but you are responsible if anything goes wrong anyway

[@midnull6009]

Shouldn't have let the upper management fire all those nurses during the plandemic and gave others no choice but to retire early. :) You all didn't stick together, not you are stuck alone. :)

[@Justine-ut8ho]

It was nightmarish to waitress during Covid/short staffed. Like literal nightmares every night. I CANNOT imagine what it’s been like for nurses. Sending love and gratitude to nurses everywhere.

[@anjelicavasquez239]

I was a waitress while in nursing school and it was one of the hardest jobs I ever had. Time management, good memory, and customer service is only the beginning of what is required of servers. And it helped me prepare for nursing because we need those same skills. Now I get to leave nice tips for all my servers because I respect the difficult work they do 💪

[@joyful_tanya]

​@@anjelicavasquez239 I waitressed my way through nursing school too. And when I became a hospital nurse, I felt like a glorified waitress. Bringing pills, treatments and IVs instead of drinks, appetizer, main course, dessert. Checking on patients is similar to checking on tables. I left in 2020. Much love to you. ❤

[@cattleyaentrolezo2276]

I won't ever forget 2020. It was hell. But everyday.. we chose to show up... I mean, who would take care of those people? But you know... I don't regret being a nurse during the initial phase of the pandemic.. thought me a lot.

[@butterfly-of-prairie-limin9012]

I went from waitressing, into health care (HCA currently, I want to be an Xray Tech though). Coincidentally, I used to waitress at a medical hotel, in the inner city. At a hospital. The place was truly insane, lots of drug use by the patrons, issues with alcohol, violence - same group of people using the hospital. I also worked straight through the pandemic, as the restaurant I worked at needed to stay open because of the hospital. Then, afterwards, I ended up at the ER in the same hospital for my practicum. I knew exactly what to expect. Now I work at a hospital-pch facility. Lots of times we are short-staffed. Insanity in a different way. Very demanding patients and units (I'm a float). It's painful. It's pushing me towards a better profession, but still in the medical field.

[@anonymousperson8259]

I was going to say, waitress with pills, bringing them cokes, pillows and heated blankets up and down those halls. To the tune of "done" IV pumps singing 🎵"air IN line.... ocCLUsion...med IS done"🎵 3 notes, just like that. The other tune/beat is the hooked up vital machine being like 🎵B-p-is too-high....O-2-is-too-low...Come-check--the-patient....🎵 Funny thing is, I am in a way more chill field now and some weird part of me misses the craziness. What is that 🤪?

[@mariacorretge6615]

Nurse John got me to start the car and drive to work (doctor here) a few times already. His humour is universal and his situation resonates with what the NHS is going through so well. Thanks, John!

[@OnyiJoseph]

Hi Maria, I understand. I think we worked together in 2016? Not going to mention where to protect our privacy.

[@generybarczyk6993]

I am not a nurse. I have a master's degree in counseling and am retired from a career in (U.S.) health care, from general hospitals to state mental hospitals and from community mental health to hospice care. I've worked with, been supervised by, and have supervised nurses. Just like any other group of human beings, nurses include the good, the bad, and the ugly. BUT, on average, I have found nurses to be possibly the most professionally selfless and caring group I have encountered. It's a strength that is the backbone, muscle, and heart of our healthcare system. It's also a weakness that makes nurses prone to being taken advantage. It takes a heckuva lot to make nurses go on strike. Just sayin'.

[@tastypymp1287]

They've also killed millions.... Just sayin....

[@tastypymp1287]

@@generybarczyk6993 Ahhh, the hatchling....

[@christineruste]

Totally agree. I am a nurse, and I have had to change jobs multiple times because of unsafe working environments, bullying, and just the sheer amount of responsibility. It takes a lot to make nurses go on strike, because we worry about letting the healthcare system down. However, we need to, to make everyone else aware of how the system is letting us down..

[@jbre7233]

They legally can’t go on strike, at least in Ontario Canada. They gave up the right in the 90’s and can only use arbitration as their bargaining tool. During pandemic the conservative premier unlawfully suppressed wages and then refused arbitration process. HUGE point of discontent, still working its way through layers of appeals in court. So, if they can’t strike, they’ve quit.

[@generybarczyk6993]

@@jbre7233 That would be too bad. But I quit a couple jobs when things went south. If the bosses are that stupid and obstinate, I didn't want to work for them anyway.

[@heatherwarner865]

Im not a nurse, but was an elderly caregiver and I started following John almost from.the beginning. His humor is spot on. Caregiving is one of the most stressful, mentally challenging, and hardest jobs with little pay. John really shows the need for mental health acceptance for our caregivers.

[@badgyalxtine]

Nurse John, my sister and I have been cracking up and crying to your videos all week. I knew nurses were heroes but your videos really put things in perspective. Thank you for everything you and all the nurses do. Please be safe always. Take care of yourself. We all deserve a breather to heal and refocus. 🤲🏾 🥰🧑‍⚕

[@nicoler.wunderink_2874]

Sometimes you see another nurse on the internet and all you want to do is give them a hug. To all nurses: Thank you for caring, thank you for loving and thank you doing what you do

[@burntearth85]

I loved him before I knew he was Canadian, now I double love him!

[@anonanon5501]

Wow the accent, the nose, and the skin color is undeniably Filipino. 😂

[@user-cj6jd3xx9l]

@@anonanon5501 race and nationality aren't the same sorry to break it to you

[@anonanon5501]

Oh no it’s okay the observation I pointed here is also open-ended, isn’t it?

[@jayejaztynnetv9167]

nope His not Canadian. watch his KZbin Channel Nurse John😅

[@babynicolle1]

​@@jayejaztynnetv9167he is Canadian Citizen, that makes him Canadian

[@madnessintomagic]

His work is beautiful. Nurses are the perfect example of a working schedule that is little better than torture. 12 hour shifts, or more, on multiple days in a row, in departments that are chronically understaffed. It’s ridiculous. Just because you’re in a helping field does not justify the expectation that we (I’m not a nurse, but similar career) be self-sacrificial. It’s a *job*, not a punishment you’re supposed to be grateful for.

[@veronikafannon820]

Nurse John is a very intelligent, humble and compassionate gentleman with a lot of maturity. A rare combination❤

[@bronwynreijnders7205]

I adore this guy. My mom was a nurse, and I can empathize deeply with these videos

[@leedadelavarkhan3555]

He's so funny. Thank you for bringing light to the hardships

[@leighirvine]

I can’t believe I’m seeing you on BBC news!!! I’m from Scotland and have been following you on KZbin since you started your channel and I’m so happy to see you on the news in my country!!! What you do in your videos is incredible, and using your platform to bring awareness to the issues surrounding mental health, particularly in the healthcare sector is just amazing ❤ WE LOVE YOU NURSE JOHN!!! Praying for your recovery and sending love to you from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ❤❤

[@apndrgn2324]

I’m a night shift nurse on an oncology floor. This man is fabulous!!

[@giselleabellera6218]

Saying “Thank You Nurse John” is not enough…it will never be enough. May the Lord heal you and give you strength through this difficult journey. You are a true definition of courage and empathy❤ God Bless You Forever and Always!!! From a PICU nurse and Educator 👩‍🏫

[@Chatterbox-94]

As a healthcare worker I can relate to this guys videos. He brings so much humor to our profession despite the hardships we face.

[@shelikestuff]

As a nurse he’s so relatable lol

[@taylorbabcock7016]

this man is one of the most amazing people on tiktok and in life he isn't afraid to talk about the real things nurses and doctors go through because of some patients being rude or mean when they have problems and shows how it affects the people who have dedicated their lives to helping and saving others Nurse John please never change and keep doing what you are doing thank you so much to you and all nurses and doctors around the world.

[@BianxMaverickMusic]

This is very true! I have been a nurse in the NHS for 20 years and the struggle is real! We are undervalued, over worked, crap pay, always short staff and just really forced to get on with it every single day. People will say then leave the job, yes, some actually have but few choose to keep the passion alive.

[@pedinurse1]

There is no salary on this earth that can compensate us for the selfless, sacrificial care that we give, often foregoing vacations that were promised, multiple work days with little sleep due to severe stress and nightmares, working with over grouchy managers that dont help their staff but spend their time talking about their kitchen redoes and their sex lives. yes its true I have seen it all. I have literally seen our floor fall apart and the managing supervisor not come in because all hell broke lose. Sometimes the nurse /pt rtios are not enough. The pts are just too complex these days

[@thnkr0917]

Consider nursing a stepping stone to something better while you are still helping people. There are so many other ways to help people in this world. When they cannot get enough nurses to fill the job openings and do the crap work, things will change in nursing.

[@tdbarton7712]

Nurse John is positively affecting lives in so many ways. Bless you!

[@amylewis7563]

I love love love his content. It is 100% accurate. I have been a nurse for 30 years and it's brutal out there in the hospital setting. We can all relate to his videos. His comment hit home. I am on medical leave right now and I miss my coworkers, but not my job. He is a gem! ❤❤

[@galacticbutterfly5590]

Im in awe that nurse John made it all the way to BBC news.

[@sophielazu6120]

Nurse John got it on right on point. Every video he has out is exactly how it is at work......

[@1andonlyneo]

His videos made me realize what my mom goes through as a nurse

[@TaraNicole724]

He is hysterical and He deserves all the success 🙌

[@tresdj]

Found him about 8 months ago and EAT UP his conent!!❤❤❤❤ I am no longer a caretaker, but was for many decades and my closest friends are all nurses 😊 My daughter is pre med but works in our local ER on breaks, so I am her soundboard and I really feel what he's expressing in these video's.... although, my besties might wish I'd stop sending them shorts of his 😅 They are too busy!! Love to all those on the Frontline and those who had to step away, THANK YOU 💜🩵

[@pammishful]

I don't know what I would do without Nurse John and Prozac.

[@moniquehoward1822]

Thank you nurse John. This is also true for doctors- the burn out is real. You are so eloquent about your love for caring for others. I know that feeling and the fear/pain of knowing what you will go back to and the anxiety of not returning due to trying to keep up your mental health, and the guilt of balancing your dream with your reality. Keep up the good work. You are the voice for so many!

[@lzal9204]

Nurse John is what we all need. Working as a nurse is not the same anymore. I’ve been a nurse for 30 years but honestly, I can’t wait to retire. His videos help us all hang on.

[@denisemurphy3915]

Love to all the overworked and underpaid nurses of the world, I hope this nightmare is over soon, love to Nurse Daniel, at RPA Sydney, miss you mate 💕

[@morissalan3397]

Well said Denise, Hope you are having a wonderful day so far?

[@brodycruz5648]

Nurses are seriously under rated, 2 years working in the pandemic and I had to quit, mental health is the main issue why nurses quit…it’s rough

[@lazvegaz]

Every time I watch Nurse John, I'd be laughing inside and outside because he's so good at making us feel what humans can be like. I'm very thankful!

[@arfriedman4577]

Nice to see nurse John is on the news. Glad to know he took a break.

[@Amy-ej2px]

00:34 That slow eye blink. 🤣...Love Nurse John! Happy to see him get more recognition.

[@krs6924]

You know what happens when I watch his videos? I laugh at his material and then I start crying. My laugh goes into a cry because it hits home. It’s exactly how I feel.

[@susanjohnson4208]

Just LOVE YOU ❤️. I'm a Retired Nurse & I can relate & Love ALL of ur videos. My daughter works 12 hour shifts at a hospital during nursing work without the pay (just needs the education). You are SPOT ON & we THANK YOU❤

[@michelespier5879]

Thank you for all that you do to bring attention to the healthcare essential workers and their challenges and needs to be addressed and improved. We love you. Blessings to you all.

[@Trinity25Apr]

So glad he's getting recognition for putting a spotlight on the issues facing nurses. He's not preaching ,just teaching in a very relatable manner. His content is compelling.

[@carlasouthwell7422]

Johnn, you speak the truth. I LOVE my patients, AND (most of) my co-workers. We're trained as nurses for our patient and clinical skills. It burns us out, not to be recognized or supported in making our patients healthy. It's because of the complicated administrative and reimbursement dollar, not spent to take care of the sick

[@Afrodite700]

I love Nurse John he's my fave tiktoker. My father is a nurse, so his content is so relatable to me. Taking care of people is a lot of pressure, add on top of that below par working conditions and crappy pay, it's just a lot.

[@shayron44]

Love his work!

[@601salsa]

I wish this guy and all health workers the best. Its usually a thankless job and a never ending line of patient faces. You guys are true heroes of the community along with ambulance and fire fighter personnel. Thankyou for everything you do, thankyou for going that extra mile when you feel exhausted but know the effort helps the people you help, recover faster. Thankyou for being kind, caring. You are truly awesome.

[@9cloudrachel207]

I love this man he’s so sweet and endearing.

[@MelKashima]

Being a new graduate nurse, Nurse John has helped me through my clinical rotations plus so relatable of what I saw amongst nurses when I was a CNA and Phlebotomist as well. Nurse John, you're a gift to all of us! ❤

[@alma_d]

I absolutely adore him! Although i am in a stressful environment where we have some sort of challenge, these medical field angels share so much more stress and shortages. I hands down support and pray for many of our nurses. Much love for this beautiful person

[@unchargedpickles6372]

As an American nurse I 100% feel all his videos. I feel those dark eye circles and exhaustion down to my bone marrow. I left working in hospitals because it was horrible w the understaffing and work load.

[@KaliHuntArt]

So real!! Great job expressing the mental health of nursing

[@goinggreen4720]

Let me tell you, he is hitting the nail on the head. This is what it is like being a nurse.

[@MB-qx9vn]

This guy is a real hero for nurses. The struggle is real as a nurse. Having panic attacks, constantly being stressed and fatigued is NOT normal. But, hospital admin with business degrees seem to know better and want to slap “burnout” classes on us.

[@alig-cc3st]

Thank you for sharing your story. You videos uplift me. I am a nurse too...so so real

[@bizzybee4459]

I can personally attest to the fact that everyone of his videos is 💯 accurate. The added humour that makes us laugh is because every single nurse around the world has been in the exact situation Nurse John shows us in his videos. Burnout is real, but nurses continue to serve.

[@angelas888]

I am a teacher, but a lot of Nurse Jhon content resonates with me. Love you Nurse Jhon ❤

[@anidanricable]

I LOVE HIM!!! Props to all the nurses who truly are the the ones taking care of us at our most vulnerable.

[@allier1867]

Aww i love his short form videos. I worked at a hospital for a short time but so relatable

[@nola281]

I completely understand the short staffed thing. I work at a nursing home and the last time we were full staff was October of 2019. All of us at work have 5 extra jobs, plus the real job. I do housekeeping, kitchen, reception, supply and therapy for people. One of my coworkers quit months ago, the job isn't filled now. I was told we have a new person coming in but I'll believe it when i see them stay three months.

[@rheahawko7179]

I laugh, I cry this is so accurate in every job

[@heidiraphael972]

I love watching nurse John. We are all feeling the stress with all fields because of short staffed.

[@als5961]

I'm health professional and I like so much the crazy nurses

[@boitumelomasipa4990]

My favourite social media personality 🫶🏿😄 so genuine and authentic

[@heidinolen873]

Love that guy. Keeps me going when I'm surrounded by chaos.😂

[@nnicollan]

Love you John ❤ speedy recovery for you. Unfortunately cant expect the same for the healthcare system

[@ZinuZinu-u3x]

Beautiful soul

[@esthernjuguna6713]

I love Nurse John.....He has a global audience....lots of love and hugs to you and every Nurse around the world....from Nairobi, Kenya. I am not a Nurse but as a Special Needs Educator, I can relate to the work overload, being short staffed and the Mental breakdowns.

[@TheDailyDigestion]

I love watching his videos , he is so right on about it being short staffed , people never show up because it is so challenging mentally ….. it is the toughest job I have ever had

[@saeedtorres966]

Nurse John is an absolute angelic human being ❤

[@zainab5674]

Oh man im a doctor bt ur videos are so spot on wit beautiful twist of comedy. We love our nurses they are our super heros witout i dnt knw want will happen. Thank u 4 highlighting all challenges u are all facing, i personally want to say we appreciate u all. Lots of love frm 🇿🇦

[@RoseaCreates]

As a caregiver, nurse john really resonates. He is so loved.

[@just_Anjealic]

Filipino nurse will always give extra with love. Always smiling, dedicated to work and the way Filipino nurse care for their patient is like caring for their family member.

[@kiablis4371]

Congratulations on the coverage!!! He need a longer video!! He has his own youtube, too! I need more interview, QNA, storytimes, etc.

[@Starlight.1998]

As a housekeeper who works at a healthcare facility, it really is like that for the nurses from time to time

[@mahnoorrahim1809]

He is amazing. I have high respect for him. Thanks BBC for showing him and show casing his talents.

[@LeopardprintBet]

I’ve been a nurse for 32 years and I’m done. It’s taken my life. No, the life from my life. I always said I could never leave or retire. I LOVED being a nurse, I thought it was my vocation. I’m desperately looking for alternatives now. Love Nurse John. I’m sorry he burnt out. Big love and thanks ❤

[@momiji7789]

Wow. Canadians have been dominating on KZbin and we had no idea this entire time. Nurse John is the funniest nurse/medical content creator!

[@YasuAnn]

More power to you, Nurse John! I am off from bedside nursing right now to rebuild myself from post COVID mental health breakdown but I still have high hopes that one day, we could go back to where our hearts belong, which is taking care of our patients. God bless you! 🤗

[@mariaferrer3679]

I love Nurse John Watching his videos every day just brings so much light and laughter in my day and it's my one guilty "escape" from all of my life's stressors and struggles

[@erwinl.8152]

Bless his heart. He’s made me laugh so many times and it’s so relatable. I hope his current patient gets lots of tlc.

[@reneenordeen9447]

Love this guy.

[@lilytyler80]

He is such a cutie.

[@morrisahj]

So glad to see nurse John always! 🤞 Good luck to you in Montreal and I hope the job you love feels like it loves you back one day!

[@evesanchez2157]

Such a lovely soul. Glad they exist. I can’t be one of them. But, appreciate that other people are blessed by having them. More power to him! ❤

[@camoy4057]

I love Nurse John! He exposes the situations nurses go through with humor everyone can relates to and appreciate. I look forward to his videos and hope it helps people in the medical field to cope.

[@judyortiz4006]

I am an RN and your videos are right on. I love your humor. Many situations that u make fun of are reality!! Keep up with your wonderful videos

[@leeannautry761]

Thank you Nurse John for making me laugh when I feel like crying. I have been a bedside nurse for the past 28 years. It's the worst I've ever seen it. So thanks for spreading some joy to this old nurse!!❤❤❤

[@sherrellmccarthy2301]

Your strength is amazing. You are appreciated and valued. Thank you for the joy you give us. Take care of you ❤

[@carolynwalker2914]

I’m a lab tech and this covers our struggles also.

[@adrianaornelas8412]

I love John actually Im a university teacher and I feel the same way, but obvusly nurse's labor deserves recognizing and being honored! Congratulations to all the health cares!!

[@billygoat9381]

Yay for nurse John! I binged his content before and it’s cool to see him showcased on here!

[@tballard4153]

Thank you, nurse John. From the patients and the nurses from around the world.

[@stemwaffle]

I'm not a nurse, but I've been in the ER multiple times, and YALL ARE AMAZING

[@AlinaKat3]

I wasn't a nurse but I can still relate to his videos so much, I also had a mental breakdown and burnout from my work so I decided to quit.

[@suuzeebee]

Love Nurse John ❤

[@hotmintchoco]

@nursejohn!! youre on CNN!!!! so proud of your achievements thanks for bringing a laughter to our faces. and please please do get well soon, take as long as you need to feel better.

[@KingGosia]

He found an universal language in those tic told. Thank to Nurse John 😊

[@regina_filange2.0]

My Mom retired 2 yr early... it broke her heart to see patients being comprised of care. She never lost a patient in 35 years, but she feared that she would not be able to say that much longer if things continued. Bless all Nurses❤

[@darlenecannon2873]

He is doing good things for a nurse’s plight.

[@gotliili]

I met him on the nursecon cruise to the Bahamas and he is down to earth nice and humble .. truly a nice guy .. nothing like nurse Blake who was a major diva and not at alll nice or humble like nurse John.

[@Joe.Ortega]

I love the content that he puts up... he's vlogs really hit home. The struggle is real.