'Nursing The Nation' by Molly Case

Molly Case, an RCN student from London, received a standing ovation from Congress 2013 following a reading of her poem 'Nursing the nation'.
You can follow Molly on Twitter at @RI_Macey and go to her website at www.rimacey.com
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[@danzel1157]

So relevant today, what with the Covid-19 crisis. I got something in my eye there for a moment.

[@geoffdunbar1677]

Molly, I've just seen this video. Your words need the widest possible audience. I still recall one of your nursing predecessors crouching down to speak to a frightened 7 year old with a broken arm. She took his hand and spoke calmly, reassured him and wiped away his tears. Amidst all the rubbish thrown at you and your fellow professionals, remember that these are the true stories and there are so many others that could be told. Our NHS staff do a fantastic job - day in day out - you are appreciated and your compassion is remembered - I know, because I was that 7 year old.

[@wackedout787]

From a medical student and colleague: thank you for your wonderful poem. Would be an absolute honour and pleasure to work with someone with such vision in the future.

[@muzyczkowelove7788]

Moly thank you, I am from Poland and i'm studing nursing, now your voice is even here, in my heart

[@SO15GP]

I'm a project manager in the NHS, and I agree 100% Improving ANYTHING most needs the people on the front line - Nurses. But wards are so short-staffed they're run off their feet just dealing with the 'now', let alone investing any time in making things better. It's not a dumb cost-cutting choice though. Hospitals desperately WANT more nurses - but can't fill the vacancies. There's a national shortage. Something needs to be done urgently to attract more to the profession. Better pay might help!

[@fujizzleberry]

..I don't begrudge my patients or co-staff if I finish work an hour late because they needed a hand or someone died. I come home happy most evenings because I know I have done my best for my patients. Yes I have seen bad nursing practice and I have always addressed it. Shouldn't we be thankful and rejoice for the good nurses that devote their time to helping and caring for patients and their families?

[@hiigle]

The patient who waits in the bed by the wall waiting in pain for the nurse to answer the call the water, the cup is just out of reach but the patient is bereft of movement and speech the bell is rung but there is no one to answer, the nurse has turned out to be an over worked chancer who wants her tea not to sit with me or you or her, the dying patient who sits in her shit and for weeks no one's bothered to clean her or it. M.R.S.A and C.Diff are shared by the uncaring nurse who never cared.

[@marg2809]

I am so sorry, what I meant was that I was pleased for you that you only know excellent nurses, and I am pleased about that. Of course I am not pleased your wife has been assaulted. I have suffered in this way and it is horrible. However I am not sorry for exposing those nurses who let the good ones down. The bad ones need exposing, and if you really think there are no bad ones, then there is no point discussing it further. My mother in law died at the hands of incompetent nurses.

[@MrRiccouk]

Yeah be pleased for me that my Wife is out there working herself to death and being assaulted for people and the media to bash them. If you truly are a retired nurse you should be ashamed of yourself for belittling your former colleagues and the people who are putting themselves through the mill to keep the legacy of the NHS, the best thing about Britain, going. I wouldn't dare belittle my former colleagues like that!

[@MrRiccouk]

My Wife's a Nurse & I couldnt tell u enough about the work she does. She comes home after @ least 80% of her shifts havin no had a break, be it 2 eat or 2 go 2 the toilet (she works 12hour shifts)! My wife has spoken of the countless times she's sat with a dying patient whose family wont make it to their bedside, because she doesn't want them to die alone. My wife has been assaulted several times, including once the week before our wedding! Margaret Chapman all the nurses I know are like this!!!

[@janice8586]

I think it's a real shame that you resort to bad language to make your point.You may disagree with my opinion but I don't think swearing at me does your opinion any justice at all. I hope we can allow different views and see this as healthy debate, not the start of a slanging match, which does no one any favours.

[@jowilley1843]

But She forgot to say ....... Stop cutting our staff back because we can't cope, stop pinching our pensions and give us some hope. With more staff we'll be stronger and we can do more ......... Burnt out knackered staff just end up on the floor :( can't roar anymore !!!!!!!! 2 years student nurse v 25 years NHS loyalty

[@marg2809]

It is a beautiful poem. But experience tells me that there are not enough nurses who think like this. A lot do, but there are to many who don't. I have had a lot to do with the nhs over the last few years as a patient and as a relative, as well as professionally and there are just too many stories of poor care, poor attitude and poor training.

[@janice8586]

This makes me really cross...a real abuse of Congress in my view. Using the platform to sell herself I felt...I couldn't listen to the content for my rage...really theatrical and dramatic!!devoid of any relationship to a working clinician. But her career as a poet will have been enhanced no doubt. H

[@gladoline]

We had this video played in our lecture with all our cohort... not a dry eye was seen. Thank you Molly and thank you RMC Congress for letting Molly speak.. we all heard you roar ;) xxx

[@ajswhufc]

If by 'typical' you mean that she is caring and passionate about her career. Yes, I agree. I'm sure that when she qualifies, she will be a credit to the profession, and not someone who disparages students for trying to be the best that they can.

[@ChasingLeadBalloons]

So inspiring - This needs to go Viral, lets keep roaring! From a 1st year student nurse (:

[@ajswhufc]

I agree, but you have to want to. "if nurses are too busy to give patient centred care, then you have to ask the question What are they too busy doing?" Brendan McCormack It is about priority in many cases.

[@bornwithawoodenleg]

No, I meant "typical" in the way she has no idea what sort of shitstorm she has heading her way. "We will do more"? You won't have the time to even offer basic personal care, let alone pin flowers to the deceased.

[@kaleboy]

Government should look and listen. Nurses care. Nurses are nurses because they care. Politicians politic, argue, barrack and distort truths to fit their ideology. I know who I respect and admire the most. Our nurses are angels.

[@lorirutherford390]

WOW, what a beautiful tribute to the things we do every day! Molly, you are truly amazing, and your nursing career is going to be just as amazing! I have been a nurse for 34 years, and yes, I get tired and disheartened, but I get up every workday to look after those that need my help.

[@redheadfashionista]

Well done Molly. And to anyone who has ANYTHING negative to say about any aspect of this poem, this message or this individual, take them to daytime tv shows. You're not welcome here.

[@saik3107]

Nice concept getting a student nurse to speak but how bloody cheesy!! People aren't going to take nurses seriously when they are so busy writing poems about how wonderful they are!!

[@mad1dk1]

I can only recommend sending it to them... they made all their facebook pages and twitter pages, guess they did so because they want to hear from us all?

[@robowenmacmusic]

For anybody that wants to check out more of Molly's fantastic poems and work please go to: rimacey.com or follow her on Twitter via @ri_macey

[@gracehopper27]

If u lost ur trust in nurses, make sure you take care of your love ones since u are a nurse. Do not judge or stereotype all nurses.

[@petrahoward1155]

Please see here for a full transcript: dragonsfly-kitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/molly-case-put-to-words-feelings-that.html

[@noelw080808]

Do not usually comment on you tube videos, but Molly that that was inspiring and good luck in your career

[@janice8586]

I speak as a long term , time served working clinician who this poem does NOT represent.

[@mad1dk1]

I for one are not happy until Molly is on the front page of one of the big papers...

[@MrRiccouk]

And sorry for the poor grammar, use of numbers @'s etc but I ran out of characters

[@freddiegoeshome]

All said and done it's a nice poem but that does not get me the staff I need...

[@TheJuzziBear]

Well aren't you just the sweetest person alive today? You're sick, in the head!

[@mrskirky]

Beautiful! Your colleagues across the pond support you!

[@suzannesmith7]

An inspiration, well done! I have nursed for 30 years made me proud! Molly I want to work with you!

[@idaek85]

I just LOVE this poem/speech!! From a Norwegian Nurse student.

[@PrincessSquig]

'healthy debate' if you want to call it that then go ahead.

[@chrisashton33]

Its not rapping its how spoken word poetry is delivered.

[@ReignDansare]

I guess they can continue to slag and slate each other?

[@bornwithawoodenleg]

Typical student nurse. Wait until you qualify love.

[@samsondelighted]

actually that was rapping, rap is a form of poetry

[@nickyclark83]

Tears in my eyes: "Hear us goddamn ROAR!"

[@krustybreid]

Has anyone posted this to Loose Women?

[@Stuart2562]

How can I share this on y FBI page?

[@Amethiste]

I just got my marks today telling me that I passed my second year of my bachelor of nursing. :) This poem is unbelievably beautiful and it makes me so glad that I'm (hopefully!) going to become an RN in about two years time.

[@Oggie268]

Great speech. Even better legs.

[@nickyclark83]

Struggling to understand how people can have a negative view of this. Having been trashed by the government & the media it's harder to accept our own kind having a go at us. We do care, a lot and we see things and feel things. This poem is beautiful & describes things well. It is a poem & not a researched paper so it will be more emotional, as it should be. It would be nice if people stopped attacking us at every turn. From a caring student nurse

[@NaomiBurgess]

Beautiful poem, touching. The media has a knack at only reporting on the negative issues surrounding nursing. I've seen good hearted nurses doing wonderful work but apparently that's not 'news worthy'. I'm a 3rd year nursing student and the vast mojority of nurses I've come across are doing the best that is humanly possible on chronically understaffed wards without the resourses or time to provide the care that patients need. Healthcare today is about profits not people, that's the real problem.

[@philipdarbyshire1082]

The 'Thanks a Million, Molly' Campaign is ON! We want to celebrate Florence's Birthday on Nurses Day, May 12th by having 1 Million KZbin hits on 'Nursing the Nation' and for this message about great nursing to enter 1 million hearts and minds. Share this KZbin link with everyone: colleagues, workplaces, Nursing & Professional associations, contact lists, social media networks and more. 'Hear us goddamn roar'! Prof. Philip Darbyshire

[@Therealscousedancer]

I agree with you in part Kathy, not all Nurses are Angels - if they were, Mid-Staffs would never have happened. Having said that, and i think this was Molly's point - neither are we the Demons the Health Secretary & UK media would have you believe we are! We don't do enough as a profession to highlight the good people like you & Molly do every single day. As a profession, we need to showcase & highlight at every opportunity what good we do, and challenge our critics, make them see the good we do

[@fujizzleberry]

That was amazing. To those saying she's only saying how wonderful nurses are, the majority of nurses are amazing. Yes we make mistakes due to high stress, yes we sometimes forget that the patient in bed 23 asked us to do something or get something, but we also go for hours without a drink and food just so we can make sure our patients are cared for. We don't go to the toilet for hours because we are rushed off our feet or are busy feeding patients their lunch....

[@33lubydoo]

Brilliant. I teared up. I left the NHS (as an SHO) for Canada but boast about it all the time. Very hard to listen to the PR attack going on. Molly, you are the majority and you've every right to be frustrated. I'm hurt on behalf of the Army that is the NHS - imperfect but amazing. Nothing like it in the world. Please carry on and don't let them break you. I hope the apathetic and entitled masses wake up and see what's going on before it's too late, if it's not already.

[@SuperRochev]

I, like the vast majority of my colleagues, am a proud nurse doing a job I love. I hate that people with no knowledge of what nursing is can criticise without even attempting to find out what wonderful work we do on a daily basis. From washing to cardiac chest compressions, to listening and holding a hand. There is no great answer to be sought as to what the solution is, it's simple, we just need more of us.

[@marg2809]

Then I am pleased for you, truly I am. I am a retired nurse, and I am appalled at the things that have been done to me, to my late mother-in-law, my uncle, my daughter-in-laws and that I witnessed on the ward while I was working. As I said in my first post - a lot of nurses are like your wife and how I hope I was, but there are too many who aren't.

[@davidshaw6159]

Awesome, beautiful delivery. I expect that your commitment and drive will take you far in your career, but I regret that such success seems to take some of our best nurses away from patient contact. Morale is dismal right now in hospital and community nursing and I agree with what's been said before, we simply need more nurses. I wish you all the best in your nursing career :)

[@icenichild]

Molly I love your poem. I have been a nurse for 40 years now. That is the type of nurse I aspire to be every day. However, we cannot pretend that all nurses are so caring because if you read Julie Bailey's book, "From Ward to Whitehall: the Disaster at Mid Staffs Hospital. " you will find out that quite clearly they are not. Not all nurses are angels and this is a problem that needs to be tackled because until it is we will all be tarred with the same brush. Staff shortages also cause problems.

[@ajswhufc]

Well, my experience (12 years teaching student nurses) has told me that the vast majority feel this way. Admittedly, Molly has a gift with words and has articulated this better than most could, but our students share the sentiment of this message. Unfortunately they still receive a lot of negativity from qualified staff who accuse them of being 'too clever to care'. The problem is the healthcare system and systematic cuts. Students are dedicated enough to still want to be a nurse despite this!

[@tomobrien62]

Gerardine O'Brien After 38 years nursing I am nearly about to retire and am very saddened by all the bad press, some of it is true and I admit to now feeling a shame creep into the pride I had in my job but hearing Molly made me cry - someone who does get the picture, who is young and I feel she has given us all hope for the future of nursing.

[@BUTALIZWE1]

Nurses are human beings too. We have motivational speakers for all other careers , why not in Nursing? Poetry, humour, art etc are all ways of expression. If it helps people see the light then so be it. Well done Molly. It is time people spoe out and had a voice.Positive mental attitude is what we need.We can never completely fix what is wrong , but we can all try and do what is right. Nurses should be encouraged by this poem and also realise that we can utilise our other gifts to do good.

[@AliceRolley]

This is absolutely brilliant. I am a 1st year nursing student and have only started a few months ago. I think this poem sums up what is going on and it makes me aspire to be like you and all the other brilliant nurses out there. Thank you for sharing this with us, and good luck in your training. No doubt you will be a great nurse. :)

[@TheMaggypie]

Brought tears to my eyes.You nurses out there are fantastic people. You are all so selfless. You sacrifice social life and as for sleep, how do you cope with all the change of hours. Have nurses in the family and feel so sad at the criticisum. All those at the top are probably treated in private hospitals where there is no shortage of staff. God Bless you ALL.

[@icenichild]

My brother developed pancreatic cancer in December 2012. He was a single parent with 5 children. His nursing care, at the hospital were I received a wonderful training as a nurse, was abysmal. He was unconscious, in a dirty bed, no bed bath, no mouth care and put on the LPC. I stopped the LPC, hydrated him and he went home with his children and lived for another 5 weeks. That's why people are generalising, the care you or I deliver may be fantastic but it's not the same for everyone.

[@icenichild]

My brother developed pancreatic cancer in December 2012. He was a single parent with 5 children. His nursing care, at the hospital were I received a wonderful training as a nurse, was abysmal. He was unconscious, in a dirty bed, no bed bath, no mouth care and put on the LPC. I stopped the LPC, hydrated him and he went home with his children and lived for another 5 weeks. That's why people are generalising, the care you or I deliver may be fantastic but it's not the same for everyone.

[@littlebeingoflight]

Ab-fab! Mills and Boon!

[@margeretlane]

Well done Molly, very eloquent and heartfelt, you will go far! It is good to have reminders of the compassion and efforts everyday nursing evokes and not always believe the media headlines of the failings. It is almost always about resources, staffing and not about lack of care although human nature predicts that there are failures in any system that are not acceptable ever.

[@Gloz93]

I am only a First year Nursing student and Molly that made me shed a tear! You have certainly encouraged me and am sure many other students out there have felt the same. well done for the beautiful piece of work Molly! Good luck with your career - you will make a brilliant nurse :)

[@debcerasa1914]

Thanks Molly & RCN for this share. Actually Molly, I think your poem represents the essential good that is our profession and the few misrepresentative nurses of our code are far outnumbered by the truly professional. My career has been nothing but brilliant, due to the privilege I have had to share life (beginning, in between and end of the cycle ) with so many. Don't lose you passion, vision or empathy. It will always reward your inner professional self. Warm regards Deb (former RCNA CEO)

[@mad1dk1]

This amazing message deserves a bigger audience and it deserves to get picked up by mainstream media. Over 1000 shares an hour on Facebook for a day and no mainstream media is even mentioning it yet... Do they really only want to talk about all the bad in this world? If you as me are tired of this then let's keep pushing this, sharing it and talking about it... Come on folks, let's show them who is really in charge!!!

[@MsScruffy6]

Molly, what you said, was beautiful, your use of the English language is simlpy very very good. However, 'how wonderful we all are...' is not necessarily true. I do not agree with those on Loose Women that chose to speak as they did, though unfortunately, there is an element of truth in what was said. I have nursed for many years and have come to the same conclusion as my mother (a retired nurse)..its not a vocation, if it was, we would be perfect. We are not!!! Nursing has changed for the worse, people do not recieve the compassion they deserve, let alone the cup of tea they require!! Its not every where, but it's there and it exists. Unfortunatetly as you progress in your career, you will see it more. I love you passion, please never lose it. We need you, patients need you and though I don't completely agree with all you said, I am proud you siad what you did. Best wishes Helen

[@Revaris]

It's nice to see someone stand up for the people that do so much for people every day, to be honest I never understood why people hate on the NHS so much, *especially* given it's fucking FREE.

[@Luann91]

Inspiration! And to the person who said about not having enough time for personal care let alone pin flowers on the sheets, within the care and nursing you always findtk

[@sjg2364]

Thank you Molly for your beautiful words. I truly believe that the majority of nurses start out feeling like this, I know I did. That passion and dedication should be nutured in every nurse. I hope one day the NHS will realise how very lucky they are to have such dedicated staff and start caring for them, instead of flogging them to the point of burn-out and then criticising them for being uncaring or unkind.

[@Pitsku]

My partner had breast cancer twice and the NHS treatment she received at Guy's/Lewisham was simply amazing. Everyone of goodwill has to oppose the Money God (as Orwell called him) and Molly's poem is a wonderful example.

[@enigmaidea9567]

Molly you are my hero. I have spread your words and will spread it more. Thank you for your hope and inspiration. The world is so lucky to have future nurses like you. I am proud of being a nurse and you reminded me of that. I intend to use your words every time I teach nurses. Thank you.

[@JILLTODD100]

I'm a nurse who has seen morale rock bottom recently. This brought a tear to my eye. Well done Molly. Bet they won't show this on The one show, Loose women, This Morning or any of the news programmes.

[@vivfish4418]

Molly I trained over 30 years ago and it was just like you say. However, I haven't worked as a nurse for several years now and the 'bad press' has often made me worry that nursing and the NHS may be deteriorating rapidly. But, to hear you speak - on behalf of yourself and your colleagues - and to feel your passion for the vocation is truly wonderful. I think your poem may well be the salvation of the reputation of the nursing profession as well as the NHS as a whole. Very well done.

[@suzimae7580]

Our family watched this and we all cried including the males....You are brilliant Molly keep writing and getting the message across.... but don;t give up on your nursing career.....nursing needs people like you....

[@alicehartley6736]

This is a very truthful piece and hearing it I know that you meant every word of it. I am a first year medical student and think the work that nurses do is invaluable. No one should underestimate the hard work they do day in and day out. I think it's great you are speaking out :)

[@XLPQR4]

Thank you so much for all the incredible comments and ongoing support. It means a huge amount to me. If you'd like to see my new poem, you can check it out on my channel. Thank you once again - Molly xx

[@TheMargaretRodden]

Molly I loved your poem and I am currently working to improve the cracked hands ........ in Tayside that struck a chord. Best Wishes Maggie

[@josephantony5589]

It was wonderfully sung in practically depicting various live characters

[@TheSoniacase]

What a great idea! I think all nurses should be celebrated in this way -press criticism on top of 12 hour shifts and low pay is never motivating, but feeling valued and cared for and appreciated is - thanks Prof Philip for this.

[@cramaleking2784]

Molly what an inspiration you are and what a big heart you have - all the best with your nursing career and may you always be as caring and positive all your living days. God Bless!!!

[@micheleguerin8552]

Thank you Molly for speaking from your heart and applauding all we, as nurses, do for society. It is so easy to watch warped perspectives of nurses portrayed on TV shows and in movies and think so little of us. It is when one experiences the compassion, caring and capability of a nurse first hand that they truly know the gift we have given them.

[@TheAndblagg]

What a fantastic poem Molly. I have just started my 1st year as a student nurse and have previously worked as a Nursery Nurse in SCBU. I have also been a patient and a patient's relative. As others have said there are good and bad NHS staff, however we are lucky to have the NHS!

[@AzzaRudd]

Is there a transcription of this somewhere? I'd like to put it up on my wall. Thank you so much for being brave enough to share this fantastic poem with us. Makes me proud to be a fellow student nurse!

[@krunchbunch1]

Well done Molly just perfect x why can't the world see its not the quality that's lacking its the quantity to allow nurses to be nurses !

[@blackwell754]

Excellent Molly, I hate it when Nurses and student nurses are bashed in the press. They have no idea what we go through on the wards. They are completely out of touch with reality. You've summed it up perfectly. Well done.

[@lesleehallett7767]

Wonderful girl and wonderful people. I hope the world sees this and gives thanks to the amazing nurses everywhere who go about their work and care so much when so many care so little. Thank you Molly Case.

[@margarettamckeating2408]

watched my life in nursing go by in technicolour as you shared your powerful words, with your passion and compassion... Deserves front page coverage on newspapers, TV and more....... Molly... thank you.....

[@mikescott8143]

Poignant, and very heartfelt - but my overall feeling after 20 years is one of being loved by those we care for, and dreadfully undervalued by those in power :( Do more? It is all many of us can do to get through each day and not feel ...

[@nigeledwards5713]

Well done Molly, I trained nearly 40 years ago and you captured the passion I had then and still do for providing the care we all want for our fellow human beings. I have been tweeting you and hope more people see and hear your poem. We cannot let a few bad apples ruin our NHS - Thank you

[@burntoutbakery]

I watched this video this morning, the views were 301. Checked this evening and it was 21,000. Your words were so beautiful and inspiring, nurses are amazing people and you helped to re-establish this. Well done Molly, you're an asset to the nursing community.

[@sarahnurse9946]

Molly, you are amazing and an inspiration for young nurses everywhere. It is us who are going to move nursing forward, we need to be able to stand up and do more and not just settle for turning up for work. Well done!!! We can change the ratios, we can rally for better conditions, we just need support and 'Positive Nature', this is the context I'm sure Molly meant 'we will do more' after all, other Nurses have rallied to get us where we are today and improved ratios in the past have they not?

[@Dulwichhamletjuniors]

I think you missed the irony implicit in this piece napalmthe elf. How much more can any nurse do in the current climate? Thats the point.

[@S41RR]

So glad molly did this i couldnt have said it any better....as a student nurse myself it can be heartbreaking being slashed by the press!

[@Indulgencebeauty1]

So beautifully put Molly, I shed a tear listening to your words. As Nurses we have all gone into the profession to help others and most of us do strive to give the best that we can. For every one piece of bad press there are a hundred good untold stories. I am still proud to be a nurse and proud of what I do.

[@richwilliams703]

I would like to interview Molly for my international nurses magazine called Nurses fyi Magazine for the iPad. How do I get in contact with Molly? Cheers Rich

[@jessicahamer3352]

I'm a first year nursing student and only started in march just gone. Just want to say thank you Molly for sharing this with us all its very inspiring. It brought tears to my eyes! Well done xx

[@markbr71]

As a Third year Student Nurse I found this inspiring. I feel the pressure already from repeated bad press and I haven't even started working yet and I know my fellow students feel the same.