Thank You, Nurses

At Marymount University, we recognize that the reason nurses have been ranked the top trusted professionals in the United States for more than two decades has everything to do with your commitment to care.
 

For all of this and more, we want to say: Thank you, nurses.

You fill in wherever needed, work long hours and selflessly serve others. This is a true example of leadership, and we admire you for it.

You care for the sick, advocate for public health measures and participate in vaccinating millions of people. For everything you have done and continue to do, we express our gratitude. 

 

Thank you, nurses, for preserving our dignity.

Nurses are present in our lives from our first breath to our last. You usher us into this world with joy and help us leave it with grace. Through it all, you treat us with respect.

“My deep thanks and appreciation to Amy who cared for me during my heart cath. Due to previous surgeries, I have an intense fear of needles, have limited mobility, cannot have my knees flat on a bed, am overweight, suffer incontinence, and have white coat syndrome which elevates my blood pressure. In spite of all of this, Amy treated me with respect and dignity the entire time while providing a calm and reassuring presence.”

- Linda Patten, Patient

 

Thank you, nurses, for cheering us on when we are at our most fragile.

We’re sometimes at our most vulnerable in front of you, yet you encourage us and give us strength. Thank you for being present at our lowest points: a difficult diagnosis, a painful treatment, the loss of a loved one or losing our sense of hope.

Thank you for sharing in our triumphs too: getting better, kicking cancer, our first unsteady steps after a hip replacement, the joy of giving birth.

“I just wanted to send you a message to thank you for your kindness and support during my labor. You were consistently kind, patient and understanding throughout the whole process. I really appreciate your sensitivity when I was emotional and your encouraging attitude. Thank you so much for loving your job and doing it so well!”

- Susie Doerman, First-Time Mom

 

Thank you, nurses, for continuing to serve, even when it means great personal sacrifice.

Working double shifts, missing a child’s soccer game to sit with a sick patient, skipping breakfast, missing dinner — these are all considered “normal” sacrifices in the life of a working nurse.

Working long days often lead to sleepless nights, but you’re always quick to offer us a kind word or a reassuring pat, despite high stress levels. It’s not only your patients who notice, it’s everyone—doctors, administrators, aides. We all know that nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system.

Nurses, thank you for your patience, dedication, and big-hearted capacity to care. Day or night shifts, you keep us going.

“Each day, you choose to provide the best quality, compassionate and tender care for our residents; sometimes, but not always, a thankless job that can be overlooked.”

- Shannon Richardson, Healthcare Administrator

Thank you, nurses, for sharing a laugh even during life’s hard moments. You don’t just help our bodies heal—you help our souls, too.

COVID-19 has added stress to all of our lives, but healthcare workers have borne the brunt of it. Thank you, nurses, for finding time to laugh and share a smile with us. You brighten our lives, daily.

“The nurses looking after my grandfather… in the Covid unit deserve a world of thanks. It was his birthday today, and they celebrated with him by hanging a banner, wore the silly hats, and took pictures for all of us to see… You all are the definition of what a nurse stands for.”

- Britnie Laubenstein, Grateful Daughter

 

Thank you, nurses, for giving us a shoulder to lean on.

Very literally, carrying heavy loads is part of a nurse's day-to-day routine. When we are unable to lift ourselves up, you help us shuffle to the bathroom or into a wheelchair. You often do too much heavy lifting and expose yourself to potential hazards every day. 

But in a metaphorical sense, you also provide a shoulder to lean on—sometimes cry on—and an ear to listen, lifting our spirits as well as our bodies. Truly, no other profession would change a catheter, wipe a tear, exchange a joke, brew a hot tea and hold a stranger’s hand all in a day’s work. 

 

Thank you, nurses, for saving our lives.

It may come as no surprise, but nurses are just as important to our health as doctors. Nurses can improve patients’ medication compliance and treatment plan.

But your impact goes beyond the concrete walls of a clinic or hospital. Simply by being present in our lives, you make a positive change in our communities. Nurses play a vital role in patients’ overall health and well-being. Their relationships with patients through community care may strengthen and enhance patients’ health. Whether it be at the grocery store or talking to a neighbor, care is integrated into your entire life. 

Every day, outside of your working shift, you think about the health and well-being of the people around you. We appreciate the advice and care you give us. We’re in awe of what you do.

 

Thank you, nurses, for inspiring the next generation.

The next generation of nurses has a greater sense of contributing to the common good because of your humility, courage and tenacity.

You inspire and treat others with compassion. You make a tangible difference in people’s lives and care for people in times of need.

Thank you, nurses, for inspiring us with effortless grace.

And to the next generation of nurses, thank you for rising to the challenge. Thank you for recognizing our needs and choosing to fill them.

Marymount University offers an accelerated BSN if you want to start a second career as a nurse, and it's 100% online. We’ll even handle your clinical placements so you can focus on the coursework while fulfilling your dream.

The quotes and stories in this blog were provided by patients and families who received care from nurses at Carson Tahoe Health and Kettering Health Network.