Superheroes, Canadian nurses. We don't actively kill people, we take little to no pay, we are the most trusted profession, we have the least corruption, we get abused, we work long hours, we work with all age/genders/ethnicities/cultures, we have no rights, and we're still here (kinda). All the impoverished people we serve, we're right here with you. New grad nurses can't afford to work and serve in Toronto/Ottawa, etc. We can't even serve in rural communities because car costs are so high relative to our wages. To the ones who complain about healthcare deterioration, we have the front row seat and we do the patient advocacy, the healthcare navigation. It's not in our hands, and other professions depend on us to keep fighting. Did you know RT "contracts" are dependent on nurses? A lot of supporting healthcare staff unions use the nursing union (ONA) contracts as a comparison for their own negotiations. When we put down nurses, we put down a host of other professions. Have you ever seen a tiny nurse break ribs? SUPER STRENGTH! Ever seen a projectile birth be caught? SUPER REFLEXES! Ever seen a RACE/Ressus team run-run-run? SUPER SPEED!

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I know lots of jobs have it rough, but I think ECEs, PSWs, and teachers have it rough-rough. Nurses 100% recognise the PSW struggle, that job is AHHHHH. Not enough staff, abusive patients, and PSWs get punished for respecting the patient's wishes or not. It's lose-lose. Wake the patient up at 0630-0700, get hit. I'd be mad too if I was woken up in retirement. PSW has to do it because morning breakfast has to be served to meet ministry guidelines, and the argument is they need to eat to maintain health. If the PSW leaves the patient in bed, get disciplined for not doing their job. ECEs, I've seen those kids. Pre-schoolers running wild kicking, striking, whining, and lying. Dealing with parents who are in denial. UGH. ECEs don't get paid enough, but I'd love to see the ECE working hours expanded or potential autonomy given. Maybe do it like barbers; where ECEs can have a classroom in a federal/provincial building. ECEs run their classrooms to code, or even provide weekend baby-sitting services; but pay leases for building use and "advertising." Also, morning and afternoon shift ECE, some of us work late! 0700-1500, and 1500-2300. Teachers, I class room size struggles, unrealistic allotted class hours for materials. Scheduling must be a nightmare, and kids of all ages are still difficult.