We did it Joe… NURSES! Voted the most trusted profession (again). Actually, nurses have been voted the most ethical and trustworthy profession per the Gallup Polls for the 19th year in a row. While a world pandemic put a spotlight on all health professionals who collectively have been fighting COVID-19 on the front lines, nurses remain the undisputed #1 spot holder. And although the World Health Organization named 2020 Year of the Nurse, unofficially I think it’s safe to say every year for the past 19 years has been “Year of the Nurse” which kind of makes nurses true life superheroes!
But don’t just take my word for it, ask Marvel Comics. Yes, the same Marvel Comics who brought us Captain America, Spiderman, Wolverine, Iron Man, Black Panther, Shuri, Storm and several other superheroes. And similar to those superheroes who teamed up like The X-Men or Avengers, Marvel has teamed up with Allegheny Health Network to bring us, “The Vitals”: True Nurse Stories, which focuses on the real-life stories of AHN nurses and other healthcare workers throughout COVID-19 and beyond.
“At Marvel, we tell stories about heroes every day. But this story is special. It tells a story about our everyday heroes – the nurses and healthcare professionals working tirelessly and courageously to save lives.” said Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment. “Along with AHN, we are honored to help tell these stories, which we dedicate to the real heroes who are saving the world.”
In 2020, COVID-19 swept through the U.S., impacting millions of people and leaving more than 350,000 deaths in its wake. Throughout that time, Americans quickly realized that nurses, and their healthcare colleagues, are real-life heroes.
And while nurses don’t literally swing from the rooftops or climb tall buildings without a rope, we still have superpowers that save lives. Every day, in communities across our nation, nurses perform heroic work, often at great risk to themselves, to care for patients with a highly contagious illness. Nurses work long and hard shifts caring for others and praying alongside families who can’t be beside their loved ones, often at the price of spending time with their own families.
“Throughout the pandemic, nurses have demonstrated extraordinary courage in the care they deliver. They are critical thinkers and patient advocates, delivering high quality care. I am in awe of their resiliency as they come to work every day, sometimes not knowing what they will face,” said Claire Zangerle, DNP, RN, Chief Nurse Executive, AHN.
“We are so proud of them, and this initiative gives us yet another opportunity to express our appreciation for their exceptional work. We anticipate that seeing themselves as real Marvel Comics heroes will provide them a moment of pride at their remarkable work during a truly difficult time for our communities.”
Help us honor our heroes in scrubs by taking a moment to share the comic book with friends and family on social media. And be sure to tag the nurses in your life to let them know that they’re your hero.
These comic books will be distributed throughout AHN hospitals and at recruiting events, with an e-reader available for digital distribution on Marvel.com.
Nurse Alice Benjamin is a nationally board certified and award-winning Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 20 years of experience. Specializing in cardiovascular health, she makes regular appearances on television encouraging audiences across America to make healthy choices daily to counter life’s emotional and physical stressors. Nurse Alice teaches the importance of a balanced, happy life. She teaches lifestyle changes that people can use today for a healthier tomorrow.
Making it her business to keep her finger on America’s pulse, this nurse entrepreneur, media personality and mother, it’s no wonder that she’s affectionately known as America’s Favorite Nurse.
