Nursing is a profession that should be highly respected. However, many people fail to see the education and dedication required for this career. Nursing suffers from many stereotypes that tarnish its reputation. As a nursing student, I am angered and saddened by this lack of respect. Nursing is an honorable profession because nurses save lives and also comfort lives that are about to die. It is the nurses who are at the patient's bedside. It is a nurse's care and compassion that leads to patient care. Nursing stereotypes lead to patient dissatisfaction because they are demeaning, distort nursing care, and lead to burnout. My goal with this article is to break the silence on nursing stereotypes and explain the true roles of the nurse. Many people have benefited from some form of nursing care in their lives. Indeed, a nurse is very important in the world of health. As a nurse, you can work in schools, hospitals, clinics, prisons, etc. The demand for nursing care is high because a nurse is the functional unit for the delivery of health care at the patient level. The true role of the nurse is both simple and complicated. Yes, nurses dispense medications, check vital signs and administer injections, but their role is much deeper and more complex than these tasks. A nurse is also there to help a grieving patient or family after a difficult diagnosis or death. A nurse also has the role of caregiver, social worker, friend and spiritual guide. In a nursing school, a nurse has all the skills necessary to provide appropriate medical care, but also to care for a patient emotionally and spiritually. Nursing roles are not that simple. Today's nurses are well-rounded and are willing to fill these different roles in their...... middle of paper ......ram many people with a grade point average of 3.5 and above who met the minimum requirements have still not been admitted due to the rigorous selection process. You attend four years of college to receive your training necessary to be qualified to take the NCLEX exam after graduation. After you graduate, you are still not licensed to practice nursing. You must pass your state boards to obtain your nursing license. Many people don't realize the extent of education and experience that a career requires. While at university, you also complete clinical placements in different areas of nursing practice, such as geriatrics, pediatrics and mental health units. You gain key experience in hospitals before you even graduate. If people truly understood the hours of education and clinical experience needed for this career, I think I would be much more respected in society..