National Nurses Week

As we celebrate National Nurses Week May 6-12, the American Nurses Association and its constituent member associations are saluting nurses across the country with the theme "Nurses: Ethical Practice Â… Quality Care." Nurses recognize the importance of ethics in nursing and acknowledge the strong commitment, compassion and care nurses display in their practice and profession in advocating for the rights, health and safety of nurses and patients.

I want to remind you of how essential nurses have been throughout history. Of course, nurses have always answered the call to service during times of need and crisis, in times of war, epidemics and natural disasters. Today, this reality reinforces to all of us the valuable role that nurses continue to play in our society and the ongoing need for quality nursing care for our patients. As you well know, nurses truly are the "quality" difference in health care. I hope you will join nurses to celebrate and reflect on how to make a difference every day, to remind others just how rewarding nursing can be, and to encourage our young people to also enter into the challenging, fulfilling and rewarding profession of nursing.

To my fellow nurses, thank you and have a wonderful National Nurses Week!

Desma Reno, Ph.D.(c); APRN, GCNS-BC, Jackson, Missouri