I have been a nurse for 30+ years and our public health system has never been worse. We front up shift after shift to provide the best care we can and keep our patients as safe as we can with woefully inadequate resources. We work in a blaming culture where clinical incidents are seen in terms of nursing short comings, we are ignored when we point out how understaffing and poor skills mix contribute to reduced patient safety and incidents. We have those in power ignoring the evidence that safe ratios directly impact safer patient care. So to our politicians I ask, how many RCAs will it take for change? How many resignations will it take? I don’t want to see and hear any more smirking and condescending politicians telling us how much we are appreciated and how the system is coping. I want some responsible action starting with acknowledgment of the critical reality of what’s happening in our health system along with safe ratios. I have never felt more despondent in my career and yet, I’m also feeling more and more like I need to hang in and fight for my patients and for my profession. So to my fellow nurses and midwives, let us not go down without a fight!