Nurses make up the single largest segment of the health care industry, numbering in the millions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment projections, the registered nursing workforce is the top occupation in terms of job growth through 2020. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing).  Part of the reason for that growth is that the nursing profession reaches far beyond hospitals. Nurses can be found in incredibly diverse settings, including schools, the military, academic institutions (as educators), management positions and patients’ homes. Even within the hospital setting, there are many fields, including the emergency room, operating room, recovery and unit rooms, and anesthesia.

While we can think of hundreds of reasons to thank a nurse, we thought we’d share some of our favorites.
Nurses are the first people we interact with in emergency rooms, hospital and nursing home admissions, and doctor’s offices.  Interaction with them sets the tone for a stay or visit.  They are the “Welcome Wagon” for all types of medical facilities and even home health care. Nurses are the heart and soul of healthcare, blending compassion and technical expertise, putting you at ease and making a difficult situation a bit easier.
Being a nurse is hard work. The role of a nurse, especially in a hospital setting, can bring a full range of emotions, from the joy of seeing a successful outcome to the excruciating sense of helplessness that can accompany a tragic loss. That’s the nature of life and death. Add to that the fact that nurses often see patients at their worst; it’s easy to understand that this is not a job for the faint of heart.
A hospital visit can potentially incorporate many different medical fields throughout the day, including doctors, the pharmacy, physical and occupational therapies. It’s the nurse, however, who provides around-the-clock care morning, noon and night — constantly assessing the patient’s condition and needs. Nurses spend more time with patients — in homes for a half hour to an hour, and at hospitals, several times during their shift. This extra time often allows the nurses to detect the subtle signs and symptoms that could indicate an onset of a more serious problem, while taking care not to alarm their patients.
Today’s health care environment is more complex than it was only 50 years ago. While not a bad thing, it creates a burden on nurses who are the primary information train between the patient and the physician. Yet the nursing profession is meeting this complexity by facilitating communication between nurses and physicians and patients.
Nurses are not only attentive to their patients and facilitators of information, but they are also advocates for their patients. Nurses improve the patient’s quality of life, and help the patients have their voices heard as to what’s important to them.  The advocacy role also includes educating patients about their individual situation, and encouraging them to be assertive in requesting appropriate care.
So what are you waiting for?  Say thank you today.