Editorial

The power and impact of nursing

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By: Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FNAP, FAAN
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National Nurses Week and supporting each other

Lillee Gelinas
Lillee Gelinas

This year’s National Nurses Week overarching theme is “Nurses Make the Difference.” I couldn’t agree more. Nurses make the difference while caring for patients at the bedside, leading teams and organizations, conducting research, and working within our communities.

American Nurse Journal has broken down the weeklong celebration (May 6 – May 12) into four sub-themes: education, team­work and collaboration, quality bedside patient care, and compassion.

Education

Every nurse I know is a life-long learner. We engage in continuing education, collaborate with professionals from other disciplines, and seek out opportunities to gain as much knowledge as possible about best practices and evidence-based innovations in healthcare.

Collaboration and teamwork

For an excellent example of nurse teamwork, look no further than the All Pro Nursing Team awards in the April issue of American Nurse Journal. These teams show how nurses work together (and with other professionals) to improve patient care and enhance their work environments.

Quality bedside patient care

The quality patient care nurses provide involves clinical procedures, assessments and evaluations, advocacy, and listening. Each element ensures individual patient needs are met and the best possible healthcare outcomes are achieved.

Compassion

Without the compassion embodied in nursing, patients wouldn’t receive personalized care. Nurses work with patients and their families, listen to their fears and concerns, and speak up when needs aren’t met.

International Nurses Day

And let’s not forget International Nurses Day on May 12. This year’s theme, Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care, illuminates the benefits of elevating the nursing profession worldwide, with an in-depth analysis of how we’re transforming healthcare delivery, economic development, peace, and societal well-being. International Council of Nurses President and American Nurse Journal Editor-in-Chief Emeritus Dr. Pam Cipriano notes, “This International Nurses Day we are highlighting the economic reasons for investing in nursing jobs, education, and leadership. The world took notice of the compassionate care of nurses during the pandemic and now it’s time for everyone to realize the long-standing and far-reaching effects nurses have for healing the health system itself.”

Offer support

American Nurse Journal’s four elements of Nurses Week—education, teamwork and collaboration, quality bedside care, and compassion—create individual nurses who respond to patient needs, address healthcare challenges, work toward innovation, and lead the profession toward excellence. Take a moment to acknowledge the difference you make. And don’t forget to recognize your colleagues as well. Point to a specific instance where they made a difference and thank them for all of their hard work. Nurses who support each other support the profession. To personally thank a nurse, click the QR code at left.

Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FAAN

Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Gelinas welcomes letters to the editor. To submit a letter, visit myamericannurse.com/send-letter-editor/

American Nurse Journal. 2024; 19(5). Doi: 10.51256/ANJ052404

2 Comments. Leave new

  • Dr. Rebecca Burns
    May 10, 2024 3:03 pm

    I would like to thank 4 amazing nurses: Cassandra Cornell, Nadine Griffiths-Brooks, Ashley Martinez, and Ankita Thakkar for their extraordinary contribution to nursing, nursing students, the art and science we as nurses generate, and for being the best humans I know. These women are trailblazers, innovators, challenging the status quoers, and advocators. Today, I celebrate their phenomenal presence and for all who have the privilege of working with them. Happy Nurses Week ladies!!

    Reply
  • Kathy Matson
    May 7, 2024 5:30 pm

    Marialena Murphy is an outstanding nurse leader. She is compassionate and passionate about the work that we do as nurses in our organization. She tirelessly advocates for our professional practice and our patients. More importantly she cares deeply for every nurse who works for our organization. As a CNO she could be distanced from the frontline staff and immersed in administrative duties. However, that is not her story. She seeks to understand the work of the nurse, at the bedside or in leadership. She helps us to advance our practice through professional governance and is strong proponent for advanced education for nurses.

    Reply

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