>>Letter: Thank the exceptional women and men in nursing who care for patients every day

Two years ago, we delayed our in-person celebrations of Nurses Week and Hospital Week at our hospital. Now, as we look forward to our spring celebrations, we are grateful that we are finally here – a place where we can again start looking forward with hope.

As HSHS St. John’s Hospital’s chief nursing officer, I ask you to join us in thanking the exceptional women and men who have shown resilience and strength beyond measure. When tested, our nurses and health care workers dug their heels in deeper and held their heads higher. Through relentless waves of change, they did what they do best – they cared for our patients.

Health care never stops. Babies are being delivered, emergencies and traumas are responded to swiftly, and much-needed surgeries and procedures are performed. Although we had to shift our focus at times, our response to our region’s health care needs never wavered.

Reflecting on the Nurses and Hospital Week theme, “Prepared to Care,” we acknowledge the extent our health care workers go to simply care. They give their all. We cannot forget the lives lost or the trauma endured from this pandemic, but we can join in prayer for the healing of all.

Take a moment to show gratitude to a nurse or health care worker during National Nurses and Hospital Week, May 6-13. They may be next to you in church, in the grocery store or living next door. Don’t hesitate to boldly thank them.

It will mean more than you know.

Allison Paul, interim president and CEO, and chief nursing officer, HSHS St. John’s Hospital

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: HSHS St. John’s celebrates National Nurses and Hospital week May 6-13