Lack of unity among nurses and a weak position on the clinical power ladder are still marring this profession. So are the 12-hour shifts Maureen Shawn Kennedy mentions in her editorial.

I have worked eight-hour shifts and 12-hour shifts on a transplant unit. After an eight-hour shift, I was able to go home and plan other activities for the day and be present in my personal relationships. By contrast, after a 12-hour shift, I felt so fatigued that I needed to go to sleep immediately. In time, 12-hour shifts take a toll on personal relationships, as well as on a nurse's performance and mental acuity.

Liliana Martin, RN

Cedar Park, TX