黑料传送门

Where would we be without nurse heroes? Because of their tireless efforts on the front lines of emergency care, lending support to other medical professionals, and helping communities to achieve their health goals, we all benefit from their dedication and tenacity.听

黑料传送门 offers a variety of degree programs that aim to prepare nurses to make a difference in the communities, whether they're navigating critical emergencies or helping with regular preventive care. In honor of the nurse heroes who impact our lives, we鈥檙e highlighting four 黑料传送门 graduate nursing heroes who have made a big difference in the communities they serve.

As a result, Hope stepped into the role of Director of Patient Care Services for Shriners Hospitals for Children, where she oversees radiology, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and鈥攁s she put it鈥斺�淎nything that would involve patient care services; I oversee all of those touches for each child that enters our building.鈥�

How does Hope feel about her position? 鈥淏eing a nurse makes me get out of bed each morning,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his position is the equivalent of a Chief Nursing Officer at other hospitals. I just love the career choice, I love being part of the medical team, I love being part of a child's experience鈥攋ust knowing that somewhere along my path each day that I can do something good for someone and to be able to help and to provide care. That's what keeps me going.鈥�

He also trained as a combat medic, where he served as support to hospitals and ambulance companies. Andrew banked 22 years of experience before retiring. He now works at the Indianapolis VA Hospital as a registered nurse, where he cares for fellow veterans and helps them optimize their medication regimen, gives them dietary counseling, connects them to other care services such as physical therapists and psychologists, and even makes house calls as needed.

It鈥檚 a role that Andrew finds incredibly rewarding, even through the challenges of navigating COVID-19. 鈥淔or me, the rewards have been being part of a team that goes out and gives vaccinations to patients who are stuck in their homes and can't get out to hospitals or clinics鈥攁nd they are so thankful,鈥� he said.听

鈥淚 can walk into a veteran's home, and we may come from vastly different worlds. Our upbringings may be different, we might be from different parts of the country, but because we have both served our country, we have that commonality. And as a nurse, that can be a very powerful thing because it helps build that nurse patient relationship,鈥� Nagel added. 鈥淎nd they'll chat your ear off. They're just happy that you're there and they're so thankful that you brought this medication out to them that's going to help them save their life hopefully.鈥澨�

And if you ask Nagel how he feels about his role, he鈥檒l tell you that, without a doubt, now is a great time to be a nurse.

And once her daughter鈥檚 test results came back positive, Michelle faced even more challenges as she cared for her daughter at home and led her nursing team temporarily on a remote basis.听

Even though Michelle was experiencing hardships and pressure due to the pandemic, she still found the inner strength she needed to pull through. 鈥淚 am more equipped to face the many challenges brought by COVID-19 because of the skills I acquired as a nurse leader, which allows me to contribute to the organization by looking at things from a systemic perspective,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was born a leader and a degree from 黑料传送门 validates that I am doing what I was made for.鈥�

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Working in an isolation unit, Robbie experienced unprecedented challenges as he managed a delicate balance of administering medications to help patients keep their blood pressure and heart rate up but also keep their temperature down. In some instances, he had to employ an approach called proning, which required turning a patient on to their stomach to ease pressure off their distressed lungs and remove built-up fluid.

While he worked in North Carolina in 2020, Robbie found it difficult to be away from his family, but still he managed to stay motivated and keep his spirits up. He found inspiration in his patients, who strived to get better under his care. He鈥檚 since gone back to work at the University of Louisville Hospital and reunited with his family. But as he looks forward to the future, he also has some advice to offer.听

鈥淭ake care of yourself. Not just physically, but emotionally, mentally. You鈥檝e got people, even though [there is a] six-feet rule, but you鈥檝e got people there that can listen," Robbie said. 鈥淎nd don鈥檛 give up, don鈥檛 get discouraged. Keep going. And don鈥檛 let COVID-19 be what determines your life. Don鈥檛 let it define you. Because the only person who can define you and where your future is going is you.鈥�

These are just four out of thousands of stories from nurses who are putting their lives on the line to keep us all safe and healthy during the pandemic. As you honor the nurses in your community, remember the sacrifices they鈥檝e made, the courage they鈥檝e shown, and the heroism they鈥檝e displayed over the past year. We owe so much to our nurse heroes. Let鈥檚 make sure they know how much we appreciate them today鈥攁nd every day.