I shadowed A&E nurses – and saw their heroism firsthand | Letter

The article discusses the author's research experience for her role as a nurse in the BBC series Casualty. The author had the opportunity to shadow two shifts at the Bristol Royal Infirmary A&E department and witnessed the heroic work of the nurses firsthand. The author observed that in every case, the nurses assessed and diagnosed the patients, and decided on the correct treatment, but had to wait for a doctor to agree with their findings before any treatment could be given. The author noted that young doctors straight out of university were repeatedly steered away from wrong decisions and pointed in the right direction by the experienced nurses. The article highlights the invaluable role of nurses in the healthcare system and their expertise, which is often overlooked or underappreciated. The author's firsthand experience provides a glimpse into the challenges and heroism of A&E nurses, who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of their patients.