This Nurses Week, let’s celebrate — and do right by
Have you ever thought about how many titles nurses hold? Caregiver, cheerleader, advocate, friend and counselor are a few that come to mind.
It’s a remarkable profession. Nurses are the first to see us enter the world, and from that moment on, are with us when we need them along our entire life’s journey.
Their work is sacred. And we should all take note.
As Central Floridians, we are blessed to live in a region with a robust health-care ecosystem, boasting leading clinicians and institutions. But that ecosystem is only as strong as our nurses, who are its lifeblood.
Through my board service with AdventHealth, I’ve been privileged to see, firsthand, our nurses in action. So as we mark National Nurses Week (May 6-12), it’s a time both to celebrate nurses, and to think about the future of this vital profession.
Robust as it is today, our health care system, both here in Central Florida and around the country, faces a challenge. As America ages — and aging Americans live longer, requiring more care — we have fewer nurses than we need. That was true before the onset of COVID-19. But the pandemic has accelerated the trend, as some nurses burn out, retire, or move on to new career fields.
According to the Florida Hospital Association,
our state will face a shortage of about 60,000 nurses by 2035.
And so, I’d like to give a call to action.
As a society we lionize certain occupations, like firefighters and police officers. As well we should. But nurses, who are also lifesavers, putting their own lives on the line in service of others, deserve the same respect and the same esteem. Collectively, we need to return the profession of nursing to an appropriate place of honor and value. It’s a form of public service, with motivations that are altruistic and mission-driven.
When you’re getting medical care, treat your nurses with respect. If you know one, or otherwise have the opportunity, thank a nurse. Encourage a young person in your life to consider nursing, or support one who’s chosen that path.
In addition to great health care, we Central Floridians are also blessed to have a growing population of young people, a firstrate education system, and a civic willingness to tackle tough issues. It will take all of those things, and a shift in mindset, to make this happen. And I believe we’re up to the challenge.