Nurses: Everyday Heroes

Happy Friday!

Welcome to this edition of “Nurses: Everyday Heroes” (#222).?

Admiral William McRaven once wisely stated, "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed every morning." In the same vein, he recounted the story of a young army officer who, in a war zone, chose to turn left instead of right. This single decision saved ten lives from an enemy ambush. The essential message of McRaven's commencement address at the University of Texas, Austin that night was this: even if your actions seem simple and insignificant, they can, in fact, have a significant impact on others and the world.

Now, I'd like to introduce you to some exceptional individuals whose simple actions made a profound difference to others:

• One lazy weekend afternoon, I experienced a mild discomfort in my chest, combined with a fleeting acute pain in my left palm. Dismissing them as insignificant, I brushed them off. When I mentioned these episodes to my wife upon her return from a grocery run, she promptly checked my pulse and blood pressure, and drove me to the ER, a decision that unquestionably saved my life. Her name is Bhargavi, and she is a Registered Nurse (RN) known for her presence of mind.
• On Valentine's Day, a friend of mine suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness while playing tennis. A fellow player who was at a distance heard the distress calls and sprinted to help, starting CPR, and persisting for nine minutes until emergency personnel arrived. The fact that my friend survived with no lasting damage is a medical miracle. The quick-acting good Samaritan’s name is Brooklyn, and she too is an RN.
• On a hot summer day, a homeless man was rushed to the ER. After rescuing him from danger, treating him and tidying him up, the medical team realized he had no shoes and blisters on his feet. The nurse escorting him out handed him an extra pair of sneakers she had in her locker. Her name is Kim, and she too is an RN, known for her empathetic actions.?

As we celebrate National Nurses Week from May 6th through May 12th, it's appropriate that we remember these stories. After all, the theme of this year's celebration is 'Nurses Make The Difference.'

I'm personally proud that my wife, Bhargavi, is one of the 4.7 million RNs in the US, who make a difference every day. My heartfelt salute goes out to all the nurses worldwide who impact lives daily.

While our technology jobs may not always present us with the chance to make a profound immediate impact, we can all learn from these nurses' qualities of presence of mind, quick action, and empathy, and embody them in our everyday work.

I invite you all to take a moment to thank an RN in your circles, and I welcome your stories of how nurses have made a difference. Feel free to share this article and tag a Nurse.

Thank you and have a great weekend.

Bhargavi Simhadri Nanette Logan, DNP Lisa Paulo, MSN/MPA, RN, CENP Lisa Ledford-Crissey Cassandra Goodwyn Clement Miller