Michelle Trubenstein

from 2022 Nurses the heart of health care

Saying Thank You for a

Michelle Trubenstein, MHA Dean of Health Sciences

Nurses…The Heart of Health Care

Everyone knows the definition of a nurse and that it takes a special person to answer the calling to become one. Some start as a certified nurse aide (CNA) and work their way through the pathway to becoming a registered nurse (RN). Some may start or stop at the vocational nurse level (LVN) and excel at providing care to those assigned to them. Others continue their education to become an associate degree nurse (ADN) or attain the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or maybe even further for a master’s or doctoral degree. Some start out in a fouryear bachelor’s degree and finish their education before working in a healthcare setting. No matter how one gets there or where they choose to stop, they deserve to be celebrated each day, particularly during this special month for nurses.

I have had loved ones cared for by some excellent nurses recently and even had the pleasure to be cared for by wonderful nurses and other healthcare professionals myself. While the care has been excellent, you can see the toll recent events have taken on them all. They are worn out, exhausted, fatigued, drained, spent and just plain tired. Some have reached their breaking point and opted to retire from a lifetime career of caring for others.

Many are just now entering the workforce, yet they too are tired. Even through the exhaustion, the

compassionate nurse finds a way to put a smile on their face (you can see it in their eyes) and care for the one patient as if they are the only patient, repeatedly throughout their shift even though it might be their sixth or seventh shift in a row. Why? Because that is what a nurse, in fact anyone who has been called into healthcare, does. They put the needs of those they are caring for above their own. They truly are the heart of healthcare, but they could not provide their best care without a team of other healthcare professionals doing their very best as well.

The past two plus years have been trying, to say the least, for everyone, but even more so for those in healthcare. The same two-plus years have been tough for those in healthcare education as well. Together, the educators and clinicians have navigated some rough waters but have also charted some new territories and developed new, innovative ides and processes for caring for those in need. While the nurses have been working to care for the ill, those in nursing education have been doing everything possible to keep the pipeline flowing to add to the workforce. Those in healthcare education realize the need to keep looking forward by doing everything possible to prepare for future needs while also doing their best to produce enough graduates to meet the current needs of an understaffed and overworked nursing workforce.

A healthcare career is not for everyone. However, if you are called into healthcare in any field, you are driven to excel and provide the best care possible for those in your charge. Healthcare is not for the weak and no matter what the movies may portray, it is not an easy or glamorous career. It is an exhausting yet rewarding career and Blinn College is here to help you fulfill your dreams.

Blinn now has four avenues for you to become a nurse: vocational nursing (LVN), Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Licensed Vocational Nursing Transition (LVNT), and starting this fall, the Paramedic to RN Transition (PRNT) track. If nursing isn’t your career choice, Blinn offers programs in health information technology, dental hygiene, radiologic technology, surgical technology, physical therapist assistant, emergency medical services (EMT and paramedic), along with fire science and fire safety and health. If you are interested in shortterm training, Blinn also offers pharmacy technician, certified nurse aide, certified medical assistant, and phlebotomy through the Division of Technical and Community Education. There are options for everyone, no matter your goals. Reach out today to start your journey!

During this special month, be sure to tell your nurse “Thank you” for what they do daily to care for all in need. It might be the little encouragement needed to make it to the end of their shift.