This Saturday we celebrate National Nurses Day, a day to recognize the dedication and compassion of nurses. Nurses Day is always celebrated on May 6 and kicks off National Nurses Week, which ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
I’ve been a nurse for more than 30 years. I was originally considering becoming an electrical engineer. It was after I joined the Army National Guard and was assigned to an ambulance company, that I first became interested in the medical field, and nursing ended up being the best choice for me. When I asked my Hospice of Northwest Ohio colleagues what inspired them to join this field, they replied:
“I wanted to be a teacher when I was young. As I grew up, I saw how the nurses helped my dad understand his illness. I was able to see how education and nursing went hand in hand. I wanted a position where I could help patients have quality of life during the end-of-life journey.”
“My grandmother died in 1994. Her nurses were loving and compassionate. I think that subliminally left a mark on me that shaped my future choices when I decided to pursue nursing.”
“The course of my life changed when my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and Dementia when I was in my late 20’s, and I began to assist in caring for him. I found an inner satisfaction that I had never felt before in being able to do this, and subsequently returned to school to be a nurse.”
“I've always wanted to be a nurse since I was a child. I started at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in 1985 and have never looked back. I've worked with some incredible nurses over the years and have learned something from each one of them. I can’t imagine being anything else but a Nurse, especially a Hospice Nurse.”
Thank you to all nurses for following your calling. Nurses are the backbone of the health care system nationwide, in fact, all around the world. Our health and well-being depends on the care we receive from each and every nurse. We appreciate you - not just on National Nurses Day, but every day.