Appreciate Our Nurses

In a report released this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), “The U.S. Nursing Workforce: Trends in Supply and Education,” data revealed that the nursing workforce growth outpaced growth in the U.S. population as the number of registered nurses (RNs) per capita increased by almost 14 percent. HRSA also found that the nursing pipeline has swiftly expanded to more than 142,000 graduates in 2011 from more than 68,000 in 2001. This growth will be beneficial for our healthcare system as our patient demands rise due to a growing older population and the Affordable Care Act.      

In my job, I see professionals from every corner of the healthcare industry go above the call of duty to support their patients.  And no other groups of health providers demonstrate this level of dedication better than nurses. I’m proud to celebrate these professionals during National Nurses Week.

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National Nurses Week, celebrated annually on May 6 – 12, is an important time for the staffing community to honor the professionals who are helping us champion issues that matter most to patients, our businesses and the advancement of our nation’s healthcare system. Everywhere you look the nursing profession is expanding, and the traditional expectations of nurses are evolving to meet the needs of the future healthcare landscape.

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This growth is also reflected in the ways nurses are moving beyond the bedside to assume multifaceted responsibilities. Nurses are now managing patient treatment plans with cross-functional healthcare teams, participating in healthcare technology integration projects, partnering with community leaders to enact local health programs, or even spearheading policy development efforts on Capitol Hill.

We are celebrating our nursing workforce with a new “You Bring the Magic” employee appreciation program, an effort that pays tribute to  all the ways nurses serve us.

Are you celebrating their vital role in our healthcare system well beyond this week? Comment below.