To our nurses and nurses everywhere

Nurses are good at balancing a lot of things — caring for and healing others, coordinating the care team, and being a strong shoulder and a listening ear to the often confused and frightened patients, families and friends. Nurses are naturally giving and are almost always overachievers.

For many, it’s automatic — an extension of the work we do at home and in our communities, like caring for children, spouses, parents and others.

Nurses know the joy of bringing a new life into the world, a new little child taking its first breath. We bandage and heal the active injuries of youth. We ease the worry, pain and uncertainties that come with age.

To so many patients and families, nurses are the heroes who calmly look disease, discomfort and, all too often, end of life directly in the face and carry on with brave selflessness.

To so many patients and families, nurses are the heroes who calmly look disease, discomfort and, all too often, end of life directly in the face and carry on with brave selflessness. Walk just one day in any nurses’ shoes, and you’ll soon find out they are balancing just about everything — everything but themselves.

This week, we encourage every nurse and caregiver to stop and take a breath.

Let’s remember why we chose nursing in the first place. Even more than the pride in the profession, this is the calling of a lifetime.

Nurses should find joy in the progress, recognition and accomplishments achieved individually and collectively over the past year.

As we celebrate National Nurses Week, we hope each nurse can make it a priority to find down time. After all, it’s a nurse’s mind, body and spirit that heals others. So let’s make a pact to heal each of those who heals us.

The caring legacy nurses are making today will guide new nursing graduates and shape the profession of nursing and healthcare for decades — if not centuries — to come.

Don’t forget to thank a nurse who has made an impact in your life, or the life of those around you.

A thank you letter to nurses everywhere