National Nurses Week: Celebrating our clients and their contributions to patient care
Every day, more than 5 million caregivers use WellSky solutions to communicate, document, and optimize the care they deliver to their patients. Among them are thousands of hardworking nurses. This week—National Nurses Week—they deserve special recognition for their dedication, determination, and compassion.
We recently spoke with several nurses at WellSky client organizations and asked them about the best parts of their jobs, what challenges the profession is facing, and how nurses contribute to their communities. Here’s what they had to say.
What is your favorite thing about being a nurse?
Nicole McClain, Director of Nursing Services, Inpatient Rehabilitation, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System: “There are plenty of reasons I love nursing, one being that I get to help those in need. As a nurse, caring for patients is the most important part of the job, and you help patients get better each and every day through caring, compassion, and encouragement.”
Mary Leinon, Registered Nurse, Avanti Home Health Care: “You never stop learning. As the world changes there are always new diagnoses and treatments. During the COVID pandemic especially. Over the years as a nurse I have learned more from some of the finest and smartest LPNs, RNs, and doctors and from all of the experiences I’ve encountered, things they can’t teach you in nursing school.”
Bunny Barnett, Clinical Nurse Supervisor, Fairview Home Infusion: “The patients—just to be able to be a support for them in some of their hardest and their best days.”
Kaui Kaaihue, Registered Nurse, Islands Hospice: “The thing I love most about nursing, especially in hospice, is being able to help our patients and their families in this time of need. Most of the patients who come on to our services have a prognosis of six months or less. It is very rewarding to me to be able to help make our patient and their family’s last moment together a memorable one, whether it be assisting with care, having medications delivered, being supportive and answering all questions to relieve their anxieties, referring them to appropriate staff to assist with their needs, being there to hold their hands, provide companionship, and even playing my ukulele and singing to them.”
Mercedes Cunis, Director of Nursing, The Palace at Home: “Being able to provide care to people, especially the ones in need. Being able to accomplish my goals. Seeing my patients laugh is an accomplishment. It means they are happy with what I do.”
Felicia Moran, Registered Nurse, Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals: “My favorite thing about nursing is the special connection I develop with the patients while we work together toward the same goal: improving their strength and abilities so that they can go home and get ‘back to living.’ There is a bond created where the patient knows that I have their best interests in mind and will do what it takes to get them to achieve their greatest potential.”
What’s the toughest challenge in nursing?
Mary Leinon: “Nursing shortage, busy and demanding shifts, stress and professional burnout, long hours and little sleep. I find the flexibility of home health nursing decreases some of these challenges. We all have those days when we wonder why we worked so hard to get our nursing degree but it is all worth it when your patients are so grateful and appreciative of your efforts to help them in any way.”
Felicia Moran: “The staffing shortage is a big challenge facing nursing right now because it results in high turnover, which decreases efficiency. Paper charting also decreases our efficiency because all members of the interdisciplinary team must pass around and share the chart of each patient during the provision of care.”
Kaui Kaaihue: “Patient and family education is an important aspect of nursing. Numerous concerns occur when patients and their families aren’t familiar with how to care for their loved ones or are not comfortable with administering medications. At these times, we must continue to educate, but support any decision at every step of the way.”
Nicole McClain: “After a very demanding pandemic we have faced these last two years, I would say the biggest challenge is preventing burnout among nurses. We must take action to improve nursing workflows and avoid under-staffing.”
Mercedes Cunis: “There are many challenges that nurses go through. One of them is not being able to save a patient’s life. That is a big one.”
Bunny Barnett: “Nurses in nature love to give all they have. It’s challenging to make sure you are filling yourself up first.”
How do nurses contribute to our communities?
Bunny Barnett: “To me it is amazing how much medical care can be done in the home. Patients truly benefit from going home and being surrounded by family, friends, and pets. Nurses have a lot to do with that program. I think this benefits the community because as Dorothy used to say, ‘There is no place like home.’”
Mercedes Cunis: “These past years with the COVID pandemic, nurses have been a main asset in the community. Many nurses have been out there giving support. As nurses, we have an obligation to always be available during a time like this. I am proud to say that we have not had one patient that missed our services during this difficult time. Our agency provided care every single day during the pandemic. It was a big accomplishment!”
Nicole McClain: “Our nurses play an essential role in our communities by being advocates for health promotion, educating the public and patients on preventing injury and illnesses, participating in rehabilitation, and providing care and support. Nurses provide ongoing assessment of people’s health. Their 24/7 presence, observation skills, and vigilance allow doctors to make better diagnoses and propose better treatments.”
Felicia Moran: “Nurses are significant parts of medical facilities providing patient care, improving processes, and overseeing day-to-day operations. Patients at Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals are provided with the best opportunity to better assimilate back into the community after illness or surgery. Patients leave Everest with a new confidence in their abilities that they can carry with them as they get back to living. Members of our community know that Everest can help change lives for the better.”
Mary Leinon: “We provide support by assisting doctors/PCPs to evaluate health conditions and make changes they order for health improvement. We teach because nurses can spend more time with patients to help train them about their own health issues. We advocate to assure patients receive the best possible quality of care. I have the deepest respect for anyone working in the health field and always will. I have always been proud to be an RN and represent Avanti Home Health Care. ”
Kaui Kaaihue: “Nurses are the first and last people most patients see when in the hospital or a doctor’s office. We give them care before and after their appointments. We help them understand how to care for themselves and their loved ones. In the community as a hospice nurse, one of the greatest things that happens is providing care on a more personal level in the home. We want our patients and families to rest assured that they are not alone. Nurses provide not only physical care but also emotional and spiritual support, education, and resources—all of which are useful knowledge that can be passed on and spread throughout the community to help other families in need.”
Thank you, nurses, for everything you do to care for your patients and your communities. We are so grateful for the hard work you put in each and every day—especially over the past two years. Your contributions make us all happier and healthier, and we’re so honored to celebrate you today!