Honor nurses during ‘National Nurses Week’

Nursing has come a long way since Florence Nightingale began the first nursing school in 1860. This time-honored profession now transcends traditional bedside care, with nurses serving as the foundation of the entire health care team.

Today, nurses lead groundbreaking research, develop sophisticated medical applications and advocate for improved health care policy. But at its root, the focus of nursing will always be the same: providing compassionate care.

During National Nurses Week, which runs through Friday, May 12, nurses are being honored for their commitment to caring. Nurses bravely dedicate themselves to a lifetime of learning, listening and lending their talent and expertise whenever people are in need. The nurses I work with are among the most loyal, dependable and caring people that you will ever meet, and I am proud to call them my friends and colleagues.

Nursing is the most personally rewarding and heartfelt profession. Families in our community and across the nation rely on nurses to carry them through their most challenging moments, and nurses are always there to serve. I encourage young adults who are interested in making positive differences in people’s lives, every day, to consider careers in nursing.

During National Nurses Week, express your appreciation to the nurses who are currently serving on the front lines of health care. Nurses are central to the teams that deliver the lifesaving care and compassion our communities need and deserve.

Susan Robel is executive vice president and system chief nursing and patient experience officer at Geisinger Health System.