During National Nurses Week, I would like to offer a long overdue thank you to our nurses — unsung heroes of health care who have created the most trusted profession. As a physician leader, I have had the privilege of working alongside many nurses throughout my career, and I have witnessed firsthand the invaluable contributions and skilled partnership that they bring to health care and in shaping the education of young doctors.
My first night on call as a young intern in New York City almost 45 years ago, I still vividly recall. At 2 a.m., I received a call that I had an admission from the emergency department. Upon arriving at the medical ward, I was met by a 5-foot-tall woman named Mary Rose, who introduced herself as the nurse taking care of my patient. On this steamy night in July, I was presented with a very sick patient: a 28-year old woman with a rapid pulse, breathing over 50 times per minute and a 103-degree temperature.
I was a young and green physician — feeling slightly overwhelmed with the responsibility of being in charge of this patient and unsure of exactly what to do next. Mary Rose immediately put me at ease. She assessed the patient’s condition and suggested she was suffering from a potentially life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Mary Rose recommended a treatment plan including starting two intravenous lines for immediate rehydration, obtaining blood cultures and administering intra-muscular insulin, followed by an insulin drip. She went on to indicate that after administering the insulin, the patient’s potassium levels would drop significantly and would need to be replaced slowly to avoid any adverse heart effects. She also recommended getting a portable chest X-ray to ensure no evidence of pneumonia and a urine analysis and culture. She emphasized the importance of my looking at the urine myself and directed me to the lab on the floor. She had clearly done this before.
Thanks to Mary Rose’s expertise and guidance, the patient’s condition improved significantly within hours. That morning, I presented the case to the senior attending physician and other residents in training. I reviewed in detail the diagnosis and treatment plan while Mary Rose stood behind all of us. The attending physician praised me for delivering outstanding care and remarked, “You might just make a good doctor someday.” I turned to Mary Rose, who was standing quietly in the corner behind me, and she gave me a wink in agreement.
This experience was just one of many ways in which I have been grateful for the compassionate partnership and guidance of nurses in caring for patients, often while training young physicians and other health professionals. Nurses are often not recognized for their formative role in medical education as they work alongside physicians and residents to ensure that patients receive the best care.
Indeed, nurses are experts in their own right, consistently demonstrating a wealth of knowledge and experience that is essential to providing high-quality, compassionate health care. They spend countless hours with patients, providing not just medical care but also emotional support and comfort. They are the ones who ensure that patients receive their medications on time, that their wounds are dressed and cleaned, and that their vital signs are monitored closely. They are the ones who catch potential problems before they become serious and who work collaboratively with physicians and other health professionals to develop treatment plans that are tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
In addition to their critical role in patient care, nurses are also integral to medical education. They work side by side with physicians, residents and fellows, sharing their knowledge and expertise and providing valuable mentorship and guidance. They teach us not just the technical aspects of patient care but also the importance of empathy, communication and teamwork. Nurses truly aid in the development of the skills and confidence needed in training competent and compassionate physicians and providers.
As we celebrate National Nurses Week, it is important to recognize the vital role that nurses play in health care and training of our health professionals. Nurses are the backbone of our health care system, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that patients receive outstanding care and support. They are the ones who make a significant difference in the lives of our patients and in the education of generations of doctors and nurses.
So, to Mary Rose and the tens of thousands of nurses out there, and on behalf of the many physicians who have stories very similar to my own, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your expertise, your dedication and your unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our patients. Thank you for your partnership in providing lifesaving care to those who need it most. You are truly appreciated, and your contributions will never be forgotten.
Dr. Robert A. Barish, MBA, is vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he oversees activities of the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. He is also a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
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