This year as we celebrate National Nurses Week, May 6 – May 12, let’s remember this year’s theme – “Nurses inspire, innovate and influence.”
Inspire. Each and everyday, as nurses care for and attend to the needs of their patients, they motivate, reassure, invigorate and galvanize . They manage patients who have sometimes lost hope, who are often lonely in their illness and many times, eventually, who are ready to transition from the other side of life. Nurses help the healing of the mind, body and soul. Not only for their patients, but they also get involved with their caregivers. Nurses do indeed inspire. It is part of who they are.
Innovate. The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of innovate means to effect a change in. As the American Nurses Association has noted in their recognition of nurses this year, this profession, more than any other, professionally transitions from the bedside to the boardroom. In order to successfully innovate, familiarity with the subject matter is key. With the wide range of opportunities, innovation comes from a workforce of over three million, who can and will continue to affect change.
Influence. In so many ways, influencing others is why we co-exist with one another. Nurses succeed in influencing decisions about overall healthcare, from driving quality outcomes to dedicating resources to specific areas of focus in order to realize change. They influence new nurses coming into the profession each and every day. They are political activists and patient advocates. They are moms, dads, sisters and brothers, granddaughters and grandsons. They influence because they often put themselves in the patient’s place.
My mom is a nurse. Though she is retired now, as a nurse for over 50 years, I saw her dedication to her patients first hand. She will always be a nurse. When I think about this year’s theme, she has definitely inspired, innovated and most importantly, influenced my decision to move into the healthcare profession. In her retirement, she still practices her profession to some degree. It never goes away. Nursing isn’t a job to pay the bills. That can and never should be the primary reason someone dedicates themselves to this profession. I always say, nursing is the one profession that comes from the heart. They are born a nurse. It is who they are meant to be. Hug a nurse this week. Tell them thank you!
Happy Nurses Week!
Lorna Kernizan is the COO of Palms West Hospital. Palms West Hospital has provided healthcare excellence since 1986. Located on a spacious 94-acre campus, their 204-bed facility offers top-quality care for a full complement of healthcare services. Palms West has established a position of medical leadership by listening to the needs of people in their community and responding with compassionate, quality health care and innovative new services that meet those needs.