“Just a Social Media Manager.” “Just a Nurse.”

“Just a Social Media Manager.” “Just a Nurse.”

I’ve heard both.

And every time, it makes me pause, not because the words are cruel, but because of what they miss.

When someone says “just a nurse,” they overlook everything that title actually represents: the clinical knowledge, critical thinking, emotional labor, and relentless dedication that keep healthcare systems running.

And when someone says “just a social media manager,” it lands the same way. It reduces something complex, strategic, and deeply human into the idea of “posting online.”

But behind both roles is so much more.

When I was a nurse, I learned to read people, to listen between the lines, to notice what wasn’t being said, to communicate clearly under pressure. I learned that words, tone, and timing could mean everything.

Now, as a social media manager and digital creator for healthcare organizations, I use those same skills — empathy, observation, and communication — to connect hospitals and healthcare leaders with their communities.

What looks like “just posting” is actually: understanding audience behavior and psychology, building trust in organizations that rely on it, communicating clearly and consistently through the noise, and translating strategy into stories people actually care about.

Social media is where your audience lives. It’s the first impression, the voice of your brand, and the place where reputation and relationships are built in real time. There’s nothing “just” about that.

When someone minimizes a profession, calling it “just” anything, they aren’t necessarily trying to be dismissive. But words shape perception.

“Just” implies smallness. It strips away complexity. It signals that the work isn’t significant or skilled.

And the truth is, most of the professions that get the “just” treatment are the ones that require the most empathy, communication, and emotional intelligence, the skills that hold teams, brands, and communities together.

Both nursing and marketing rely on connection. Both require listening, clarity, trust, and timing. And both, when done well, make people feel seen and understood.

Healthcare marketing isn’t fluff — it’s mission-critical communication. It can influence whether someone seeks care, trusts a provider, or chooses to stay close to home for their health.

That’s not “just” social media. That’s storytelling with purpose.

So when someone says, “Oh, you’re just a social media manager,” or “You were just a nurse,” I smile.

Because I know that both roles take a deep understanding of people: what they need, how they think, and what makes them trust.

And understanding people? That’s the foundation of everything.