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The absolute best part of my job at NURSEWEEK is when
I get to help recognize the wonderful work that nurses
do. We had a gala affair in Dallas Nov. 15 to recognize
48 of the best nurses in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
and Texas. Our theme for the evening was Nurses Are
Our Heroes Every Day, and we certainly saw many heroes
during the evening.
Some of our heroes identified this year are bedside
nurses who deliver excellent clinical care every day.
Some teach. Some mentor so that we have a well-prepared
next generation of nurses. A few have gone through their
own personal health crises and used what they have learned
as patients to improve the care they deliver as nurses.
Many contribute to volunteer efforts-recruiting youngsters
into nursing, encouraging women to have mammograms,
working with teens to decrease drinking and driving,
and much more. Several do volunteer work with legislatures
and local, state and national governmental agencies
to promote health and advance nursing.
One of these nurses has created better ways to communicate
with the families of ICU patients. Another has raised
money for nursing scholarships. Many demonstrate in
numerous ways how they go the extra mile for their patients.
One nurse has continually challenged the things nurses
have always done but not always known why they do them-like
the need for patients to be NPO after midnight before
surgeries-and conducts research to see if there's a
scientific foundation or if we just do these things
out of tradition.
Another designed a successful educational program for
nurses who want to re-enter our profession. All think
that what they do is what all nurses do. Some of it
is, but some of it clearly goes beyond most of our horizons.
In addition to recognizing nurse heroes, we also honored
Johnson & Johnson for its work in helping the nursing
profession. The company has continued its long tradition
of supporting nurses and nursing through the development
of the Discover Nursing program to help recruit people
into the profession, as well as their recently sponsored
events that raised several million dollars for scholarships
for nursing students, scholarships for nurses who pursue
advanced degrees and commit to teach in nursing programs,
and money to go directly to nursing schools to fund
faculty positions.
In closing, I want to share with you a definition of
a nurse that one of our finalists, Winston Centeno,
shared with me:
N is for Nightingale. A true pioneer in nursing
and the impetus of professional education in nursing.
U is for Unique. I am, you are, he is and she
is. But don't ever let me forget that the patient, whom
I care for, is exceptionally unique.
R is for Respect. Respect for each other, our
patients, ourselves, our profession.
S is for Service. The call to give of yourself
for the betterment of those in need. Making a difference
in others makes a world of difference within.
E is for Empathy. The ability to identify with
and understand another person's feelings or difficulties.
Truly the trait that is the hallmark of our nursing
profession.
The nurse heroes we honor in this issue represent all
of us and remind us of the great work nurses do every
day. I am proud to be a nurse.
See the finalists and winners from the South
Central Nursing Excellence Awards here.
Discuss this and other topics with your colleagues
at www.nurseweek.com/rnvillage
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