With Nurses Week coming up from May 6 to May 12, I am writing to
thank all "modern day Florence (and Floyd!) Nightingales" for being
so integral to the teams I work with in providing holistic care to clients, as
well as for being such great role models for all of us in reaching out to all
those in need!
Nurses have always been such a blessing to all of us, especially
as life-enhancers, life-savers, and life-passer-ons—the latter especially for
those whom have died from COVID-19 and for their families, many whom were
unable to be with their loved ones during such difficult times.
As a licensed clinical social worker, I particularly recall the
late Jo Ellen Smith, RN, whom I had never met but whom had a made an indelible
mark on me per my then first hospital work back in the late 1980s at the health
center in Algiers that had been named for her.
Jo Ellen, who was unfortunately killed in 1973 during her generous
outreach work to a nearby needy area, demonstrated care, compassion, and
professionalism...traits that I see all the time in my work with nurses.
So if you are also blessed to see a nurse during this upcoming
"Nurses Week," as well as anytime, be sure to give them their well-deserved
recognition...maybe through a good old fashioned hand written card, a letter,
an email, or flowers, since we are all prudently social distancing.
Like RNs, LCSWs and all health care professionals know what the
hallmark to denoting our health care performance and professionalism is: "If
you didn't write it...you didn't do it!"
And in these ongoing difficult COVID-19 times, we honor nurses for
their true dedication to not only "writing their love" to us so well by their
actions, but also for their compassion and love by putting their lives on the
line for us and our loved ones.
"Nurses, 'You Are Our Sunshine,'" as I've adapted to the ole
famous Jimmie Davis song:
(Chorus:) You nurses are our sunshine, our only sunshine
You make us happy, when skies are gray
You'll never know, nurses, how much we love you
Please don't take our sunshine away
1. The other night, Nurses, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I saw you helping veterans as a guide
And when I awoke and went to work, I wasn't mistaken
So I thanked the Lord and I cried. (Chorus)
2. You told us once, nurses, that you really loved us
When none of our families could come by
You bridged our love, nurses, and helped us peacefully pass on
We're so grateful to God, you know why…(Chorus)
