This is National Nurses Week, a time to pause and recognize the individuals who choose to practice the profession of nursing.

I have been exposed to a lifetime of nursing, both in my personal life and my profession. My mother, who raised my six siblings and me, worked as a nurse in her "spare time." She revealed to me at an early age the importance of both competence and caring. Her career spanned a number of health care settings, from hospitals to county health agencies. In these jobs, she cared for some of the sickest and poorest of patients. Wherever she worked, whether as a medical/surgical nurse, burn unit nurse, jail nurse, public health nurse or nurse manager, she always gave more than she received.

The attribute of giving is what I have admired most about the nursing profession throughout my 30-year career in health care. Regardless of the care setting, nurses possess a unique skill that allows them to understand the individual needs of others and to selflessly put those needs before their own. Time and again, nurses give much more than they receive in the process.

While on rounds at work, I frequently witness this attribute. I often watch in awe as nurses practice the art and science of their profession. I have seen them exhibit their special skills as they clinically intervene to restore health and save lives. I have witnessed their unique ability to greet and treat patients as if each one were their only priority that day. And I have marveled as I have seen them educate patients about their illness and lend emotional support as hardships are faced.

The special connection of nurses with their patients is often displayed in the sharing of a laugh, or a tear. At other times a nurse's concern is expressed simply in the eye contact they make that allays apprehension and lets patients know they are not alone.

In my role, I am privileged to be associated with more than 1,300 nurses who work in our various care settings and departments. What they and their co-workers accomplish makes me proud of what we do as a health care organization. Like our patients, I take comfort that their knowledge and devotion are always available to those in need.

That said, our organization is not alone in being endowed with nursing professionals who have these attributes. Our region is fortunate to have hundreds more working in other hospital, nursing home, physician office and home care settings, and in educational settings where new nurses are being trained.

I am sure most residents of our region have been positively affected by a nurse at some point in their lives. This week is a good opportunity for all of us to recognize nurses for the work they do, the results they achieve and the way they give more than they receive.

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