During my recent hospitalization for a painful illness, pretty much all the care and therapy I received came from nurses, almost all of whom were women. (I did have one male nurse, and both our gaydars beeped loud and clear as we recognized each other.)

If it hadn't been for my nurses, I wouldn't have learned almost anything about my illness, I would not have received my meds on schedule, and ... well, nothing good would have happened at all.

My nurses provided me with highly skilled, competent, professional care that I absolutely needed.

Of course, I understand that the two physicians who rotated on and off my case were also necessary to my care. Yet, from a patient perspective, my nurses were a lot more directly important.

It's really sad to see nurses not getting respect, especially when it's because they're being treated as subordinate because they're women.

I really thought we had advanced beyond this point!