Learning to Share the Weight: Lessons from The Women by Anne

Learning to Share the Weight: Lessons from The Women by Anne - October 2025 Scholarship Essay

Reading The Women by Kristin Hannah deeply resonated with me as a nurse working in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) while simultaneously taking up the stress of graduate school. The story of Frankie McGrath—a young nurse thrown into the unimaginable stress of caring for soldiers during the Vietnam War—mirrored the emotional challenges that come with caring for critically ill children and their families. Through Frankie’s journey, I was reminded of the importance of expressing my feelings under stress, accepting support from those around me, and offering that same compassion to others in their moments of need.

Working in the PICU requires constant composure, quick decisions, and emotional control. I have always taken pride in being steady in the face of crisis. Yet, as Frankie’s story unfolded, I saw how the expectation to remain strong at all times can silently erode one’s emotional well-being. Frankie begins her career believing she must suppress her fear, sadness, and grief to stay effective. I realized that I have often done the same - leaving my own emotions at the door when I walk into a patient’s room. Over time, though, the unspoken weight of loss, exhaustion, and worry can become too heavy to bear alone.

Watching Frankie struggle with the trauma she witnessed reminded me that silence does not equal strength. Her inability to process or share her emotions led her to feel isolated and unseen, despite being surrounded by others who cared deeply for her. That realization made me reevaluate how I handle stress in my own work. In the PICU, where life and loss coexist daily, acknowledging my emotions does not make me less professional—it makes me more human. Allowing myself to talk with trusted coworkers, mentors, or friends after a difficult shift helps me release the tension I once tried to ignore. Frankie’s story showed me that vulnerability is not weakness; it is a necessary step toward healing.

Equally important, The Women reminded me of the value of accepting help. Frankie spends much of the novel believing she must face her burdens alone. I saw a reflection of my own tendencies in her resistance to lean on others. In critical care nursing, teamwork is everything, but emotional support often feels like something we owe others more than ourselves. When I began to let my colleagues see when I was struggling, I realized that connection is a form of strength. Whether it is a debrief after a hard case, a quick check-in from a friend, or someone simply sitting beside me in silence, those small acts of support make an enormous difference. Frankie’s eventual openness to friendship and connection reminded me that even the most capable among us need help sometimes and it is okay to ask for it.

Just as powerful was Frankie’s role as a source of comfort for others. Despite her pain, she continued to care for those around her, offering a listening ear to her fellow nurses and soldiers. In those moments, she rediscovered purpose and hope. I’ve learned the same truth in the PICU. Some of the most meaningful parts of my job happen not in procedures or charting, but in quiet moments—listening to a parent process fear, grief, or uncertainty. Being fully present for someone in their hardest moment can be life-changing for them and for me. Frankie’s compassion reminded me that offering empathy is not only part of nursing; it’s part of what keeps us whole.

Ultimately, The Women reaffirmed that strength in nursing is not measured by how much we can carry alone, but by our willingness to share the load. Frankie McGrath’s story taught me that expressing my feelings is not indulgent it is essential for resilience. It taught me to let others help, and to recognize that healing often happens through connection. And it reminded me that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is simply to listen. In a profession that constantly tests the limits of endurance, Frankie’s journey helped me rediscover the importance of humanity both in my patients and in myself. These lessons Frankie taught me will be vital in my graduate schooling and beyond. As I learn the information needed to be a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, I hope to never forget these lessons Frankie taught me and utilize my compassionate listening skills when working with patients and their families in times of need.