May 2024 | Nurses Week 2024

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FOCUS: NURSES WEEK 2024

® ® PRESENTED BY:
MAY 2024
Focus: Nurses Week 2024

Editor’s Notebook

I want to extend my warmest wishes to all of you on National Nurses Week!

It is no exaggeration to say that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare industry, and your impact on the world is unparalleled.

As healthcare professionals, you are the caregivers, the decisionmakers, the policy-shapers, the health advocates, the volunteers, the educators, the reporters, the entrepreneurs, and the innovators. Your multifaceted contributions are what keep our communities healthy and thriving.

For that reason alone, nurses deserve a month-long celebration to acknowledge, appreciate, thank, and celebrate you for your invaluable contributions to making a difference in the world.

Please know your work is highly valued and deeply appreciated more than words can express. You are the bedrock of your families and communities, and your positive impact on the lives of others is immeasurable.

From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my deepest gratitude for everything that you do!

“The best nurses have the essential qualifications before they go to school.”  — Florence Nightingale

2 Focus: Nurses Week 2024 Table of Contents © Copyright 2024 Springer Publishing Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, distribution, or translation without expressed written permission is strictly prohibited.
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In This Issue 2 Editor’s Notebook Articles 4 Reflecting on Nurses Week: What Would Florence Think? By Keith Carlson 6 Nurses Remain the Catalyst for Transformation in Maternal Healthcare By Dr. Jamil Norman 8 Burn Care for Underserved Communities: A Certified Burn Nurse’s Perspective By Emily Werthman 12 Making Self-Care a Priority By Louis Pilla 16 Why Finding a Nursing Community Is Important By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
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Reflecting on National Nurses Week: What Would Florence Think?

National Nurses Week occurs every year during the second week of May, and much fanfare is made with pizza parties, tote bags, water bottles, and signs proclaiming “Heroes Work Here.”

If we want to be more thoughtful and reflective about the phenomenon of National Nurses Week, there’s much more to this annual moment of recognition than these familiar superficial trappings.

And since Nurses Week is built around the celebration of Florence Nightingale’s birthday (May 12, 1820), it’s appropriate to wonder what the veritable godmother of modern nursing would think of how we do (or don’t) celebrate our profession.

What Would Florence Think?

The  American Nurses Association (ANA) has chosen the theme “Nurses Make the Difference” for the 2024 celebration. While not altogether original or overly inspiring, we can all agree that nurses make a difference in patient care, research, entrepreneurship, academia, technology, and other areas of endeavor.

Would Ms. Nightingale agree that nurses make a difference? She certainly would, and I would venture that she would have much to say about how that statement rings true. In her time, nurses were the purveyors of comfort, cleanliness in the form of improved sanitation and hygiene, and carrying out of physicians’’ orders in caring for the infirm, the injured, and the dying.

In  Nightingale’s theory , nurses aimed to ensure that patients were cared for in a manner that allowed nature

to intervene in the interest of their health (e.g., the healing of wounds, the resolution of infection). If she saw nursing as “the activities that promote health which occurs in any caregiving situation,” nurses make a difference by ensuring patients are cared for in a way that maximizes their healing potential. And if, as can be asserted, Nightingale’s theory sees illness as “the absence of comfort,” nurses’ ability to provide comfort can make all the difference in the world.

There’s no doubt that Ms. Nightingale would agree that nurses’ ability to provide positive interventions in the interest of patients’ healing is a central mission of the profession. However, what would she think of how we recognize nurses for their efforts during the annual celebration of her birthday?

In Nightingale’s day, there were no tote bags or water bottles bearing the hospital logo, nor were there pizza parties, greeting cards, and banners hung over hospital entrances.

While it’s all conjecture on our part, one might hope she would look down upon such superficial acknowledgments of nurses’ worth.

Even though Nightingale was a  revolutionary , out-ofthe-box thinker as a Victorian woman, she might still be significantly shocked at the wages nurses command in the 21st century. She would also likely be shocked by the salaries earned by hospital CEOs, let alone the power of the insurance industry.

As a brilliant and forwardthinking woman, Nightingale would likely be quick to understand that women’s place in our 21st century, postindustrial

society has dramatically evolved since her time, and one could imagine that she would be wholly supportive of nurses receiving increases in salary, benefits, and other forms of recognition that demonstrate acknowledgment of their value as healthcare professionals. Plainly stated, Nightingale might be heard to remark, “Give those nurses a substantial raise—they deserve it.”

Reflecting on Nurses Week

Some hardworking nurses will likely appreciate an employer’s gestures during National Nurses Week through food, gifts, and banners expressing gratitude for their contributions.

That said, salary increases, improved benefits, tuition and certification reimbursement, and other support for nurse professional development would likely be much more well-received. Improvements in staffing, protections against workplace violence, and updated technologies that truly make our work easier would also likely be much more well received.

Nurses make a difference, and the satisfaction of a job well done can go far in creating one’s personal sense of self-worth, especially when coupled with patients’ and colleagues’ respect.

Nurses Week is a moment to pause for the cause and reflect on our value in the scheme of things. Tote bags and pizza aside, our work’s true value provides meaning, and Nightingale knew this too well.

What would Nightingale think? She would think that 21st century nurses have greatly advanced the profession. She might also remind

us that what we feel in our hearts—and the thoughts we have about who we are and what we do—always matter most in the larger scheme of things.

Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC, has been a nurse since 1996. As a holistic career coach, nurse podcaster, writer, blogger, and well-known motivational speaker, Keith empowers nurses regarding personal branding, professional networking, entrepreneurship, resume, job search and interview strategies, emotional and relational intelligence, personal wellness, and building a dynamic nursing career.

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Nurses Remain the Catalyst for Transformation in Maternal Healthcare

At a point in my career, a devastating event deeply affected me. One of my former nursing students, a vibrant young Black woman, tragically lost her life and the life of her newborn during childbirth. Despite access to healthcare, she fell victim to maternal complications that ended in her untimely death. This loss was not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a more significant crisis facing Black mothers in the United States – one that is not just a healthcare issue but rather a matter of social justice and equity.

In recognition of National Nurses Week, it’s crucial to reflect on nurses’ profound impact on healthcare, particularly in addressing health disparities. This year’s theme, “Nurses Make the Difference,” resonates deeply with me, as I have dedicated my career to advocating for improved maternal health outcomes for Black women and preparing nurses for careers in healthcare aimed at advancing health equity.

Every maternal death is a devastating tragedy that leaves a hole in families – representing a forever-altered dynamic. Perhaps even worse, statistics from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that most maternal deaths are preventable

These staggering data also demonstrate that Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women. Morbid racial disparities such as these do not have a place in the 21st century. Still, they are exacerbated by socioeconomic factors, a shortage of providers, and a lack of access to quality healthcare.

Central to this work is the recognition of the lived experiences of Black women. Factors such as poverty, barriers to healthcare access, and lifestyle choices are frequently used to explain the disparity in Black maternal health; however, these factors alone are inadequate to explain the problem. Healthcare providers often fail to see their patients as individuals with unique needs and concerns. Implicit bias and cultural incompetence compound these disparities, leading to substandard care and poor outcomes.

To effect meaningful change, we must address these root causes head-on. This includes increasing access to quality healthcare, fostering diversity and inclusivity in healthcare practices, and educating healthcare workers to be culturally competent and understand the social determinants of health.

Increasing access to quality healthcare is essential, and addressing the nursing shortage is a top priority when

it comes to Black maternal health. By creating new programs and expanding existing ones that reach future healthcare workers, we can help prepare the next generation of diverse nurses who can reduce the burden on the current population of healthcare workers and meet the evolving needs of society – especially Black women.

As a nurse educator with over 18 years of experience in higher education, I believe education is integral to creating positive, sustainable change. At Walden University, where I serve as the associate dean for the BSN program, our online curriculum emphasizes the social determinants of health and the role of nurses in addressing health disparities. I am particularly excited about a new course we launched this spring, “Advocating for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare.” This course, among others at institutions like Columbia and Frontier Universities, challenges students to confront their biases and privilege while equipping them with the tools to advocate for inclusive and equitable care. Our focus areas include implicit bias, systemic racism, microaggressions, health disparities, the healthcare ecosystem, and advocacy strategies to improve healthcare outcomes. These programs, which establish a better understanding of the unique experiences of our diverse population, are just a part of the solution. Patient outcomes can also be significantly improved by changing the face of those who deliver it. With minority populations experiencing disproportionate rates of disease and death, it is clear we need to create

pathways to the nursing profession for all, regardless of ethnic, religious, or financial factors.

One way to do this is by providing educational access to those who may not yet have had the opportunity, which can mean emphasizing online education programs. This approach enables students to earn their degrees from where they live and encourages the development of nurses who practice within their communities, reflecting the communities they serve. This is a proven way to improve the healthcare outcomes of minorities, and it has the additional benefit of combatting the nursing shortage, particularly in rural areas.

Nurses, educators, policymakers, and advocates must join forces to dismantle the systemic barriers perpetuating healthcare inequality. Our industry has a unique opportunity to drive change and promote health equity by elevating the voices of marginalized communities, challenging implicit biases, and advocating for policies that prioritize equity and justice.

As we celebrate National Nurses Week, let us recommit ourselves to compassion, advocacy, and equity principles. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Black mothers and ensure that every woman receives the quality care she deserves with the understanding she needs.

Dr. Jamil Norman is the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University. She is a Certified Nurse Educator and has over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse and over 18 years in higher education.

Dr. Jamil Norman is the Tempo Academic Program Coordinator for the RN to BSN Program at Walden University.
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Burn Care for Underserved Communities: A Certified Burn Nurse’s Perspective

Along with their trauma and flight nursing colleagues, burn nurses are now privileged to demonstrate their expertise in burn care with the new Certified Burn Registered Nurse (CBRN) exam from the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN). Introduced in the fall of 2023, CBRN certification spans the entire burn care continuum including prehospital care and initial management, acute and critical care, postacute rehabilitation, outpatient and community care, and aftercare and reintegration, as well as injury prevention, education, and psychosocial patient and family support.

With this new certification, burn nurses are uniquely positioned to highlight the important role they play in the care of traditionally underserved communities. As burn injuries are often associated with several social determinants of health, including poverty (Patel, 2018), food insecurity (Elsey, 2016), and living in underresourced neighborhoods (Alnababtah, 2016), burn nurses play a crucial role in caring for some of the patients most in need of care.

Burn nurses’ work is similar to that of critical care specialties like trauma and emergency nursing. However, burn nurses are also responsible for complex wound care, often requiring hours-long procedures in patient rooms. This affords burn nurses one-onone time with their patients, allowing them prolonged individual time to assess individual sociodemographic risk factors better. This individual time also provides an expanded role for the burn nurse, often taking

on the caretaker and trusted confidant role. In this role, burn nurses can better assess the needs of their patients post discharge, anticipating potential problems like lack of transportation, living conditions without heat or electricity, or unstable food resources.

The ability of burn nurses to anticipate these needs post-discharge is such a crucial aspect of their role that it is a component of the CBRN exam. The CBRN exam tests burn nurses for diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), community outreach, and interprofessional collaboration knowledge. In addition to acknowledging the unique role these nurses play in recognizing and intervening when necessary, the CBRN exam also acknowledges the difference in the presentation of both burn injuries and skin disorders like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Given the recent acknowledgment of the lack of diversity in medical education training (Louie & Wilkes, 2018), iknowledge of the difference in presentation is vital for all nurses. However, burn nurses should know the differences in presentation for full-thickness burns and skin injuries in light versus dark-complected patients. In addition to including DEI as a testable item, CBRN item writers and exam construction review committee (ECRC) members made a concerted effort to include depictions of all skin tones to test this knowledge.

As a burn nurse of almost 13 years, I have seen the profound difference providing culturally sensitive care has made to patients in our burn center. For example, when I started caring

for patients with burns, we used one type of shampoo and one type of lotion for all of our patients. While it seems like a small piece of care, providing products designed to work with the patient’s hair and skin demonstrates a commitment to culturally competent care. I profoundly hope that as we continue to make strides in educating burn nurses, we find new ways to provide the best care possible to all our patients.

References

Alnababtah K., Khan S., Ashford R. (2016). Socio-demographic factors and the prevalence of burns in children: an overview of the literature. Paediatrics and International Childh, 35(1), 45-51. 10.1179/ 2046905514Y.0000000157

Elsey H., Manandah S., Sah D., Khanal S., MacGuire F., King R., et al. (2016). Public health risks in urban slums: findings of the qualitative’‘Healthy Kitchens Healthy Cities’ study in Kathmandu, Nepal.  PLoS ONE 11(9): e0163798. doi: 10.1371/journal .pone.0163798

Patel D., Rosenberg M., Rosenberg L., Foncerrada G., Andersen C., Capek K., Leal J. Lee J., Jimenez C., Branski L., Meyer W., Herndon D. (2018). Poverty, population

density, and the epidemiology of burns in young children from Mexico treated at a U.S. pediatric burn facility. Burns 44(5):1269-1278. doi: 10.1016/ j.burns.2018.02.003. Epub 2018 Mar 7. PMID: 29551448; PMCID: PMC6453533.

Emily Werthman, PhD(c), MSN, RN, CBRN, is the burn program coordinator of the Johns Hopkins Burn Center, where she has been a nurse since 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of WisconsinMadison, as well as BSN and MSN degrees from the Notre Dame University of Maryland. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she studies the impact of childhood adversity in pain. She is an active member of the American Burn Association, serving as the lead nurse planner and committee member. She is also an active member of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), serving as a board member and committee member of the CBRN Exam Construction Review Committee (ECRC).

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Making Self-Care a Priority

As a nurse, you’re empathetic and compassionate and go out of your way to ensure you provide your patients with the best possible care. But when it comes to looking after yourself, self-care may get prioritized far down the list<em dash>or not at all.

Such a mindset may be harmful to you and, ultimately, your patients. Nurses are great patient advocates, but “we do need to start advocating for ourselves because you can’t keep helping everyone. Then you don’t have anything left in your reserves,” said Linda Roney, EdD, RN-BC, FAAN, associate professor, Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, Fairfield University.

“I think you have to be selfish, which is hard in a selfless profession to balance, but I think that is one of the ways that we can keep ourselves healthy. You have to prioritize yourself,” said Crystal Smith, DNP, RN, NE-BC, director of the medical-surgical unit at Children’s Nebraska.

As healthcare professionals and organizations celebrate  Nurses Week  with its theme of “Nurses Make the

Difference,” now is a perfect time to assess your attention to self-care. In this article, we’ll offer practical strategies to help you care for yourself.

No Perfect Time

When it comes to self-care, “one of the biggest lessons for me is that self-care is not a one-size-fits-all,” said Roney. Nurses need to be aware of their unique needs.

Another awareness is not to wait for the perfect time for self-care. Roney said you can work on “small, incremental changes” for 5 or 10 minutes that can accumulate over a day. You might try “habit stacking”: combining a potentially burdensome task with something enjoyable, notes Roney.

Days Off and “Zen Dens”

Smith meets with her new nurses at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha to discuss a self-care plan. If a nurse is struggling, Smith can consult the nurse’s plan and see the measures that might help that person.

One self-care policy at Children’s Nebraska allows nurses to take a day off if they need to recharge—if “your tank

isn’t full enough to come in and give all of yourself that day,” said Smith. There are no negative repercussions should a nurse choose to do so.

Nurses are also encouraged to disconnect completely when they need a break. “It’s very hard to get away from the work when you’re at work,” Smith explained. Nurses are encouraged not to take their work phones on break but to trust that the staff can handle the patients while away.

Another self-care tactic involves “Zen dens.” When the hospital opened a new tower two years ago, such rooms were built into each unit. Zen dens have a lock, a massage chair, essential oil diffusers, books, and low lighting. A nurse can

connect a phone to a speaker to play quiet music. “You can go in there and decompress how you need,” said Smith.  Smith noted that accessibility of these Zen dens is key. “We as organizations have always had places for people to do that, but never right on the unit. It’s tough to get a nurse or even a doctor to leave the unit where their patients are without any way to communicate with them.”

Added to these measures is a “Thrive” team, a department dedicated to employee wellness, noted Smith. Two members of Thrive are Howie, a golden retriever, and his handler, David. They may, for instance, join the staff for a debriefing after a difficult

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Linda Roney, EdD, RN-BC, FAAN, is an associate professor, Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, Fairfield University. Crystal Smith, DNP, RN, NE-BC, is the director of the medical-surgical unit at Children’s Nebraska. Zen dens offer staff a quiet place to decompress.

patient or family situation. Besides Howie and David, Thrive has a team of trained peer supporters and group facilitators available 24/7 for clinical and non-clinical team members.

What’s more, staff are encouraged to go home after a death in the facility. Death in general is very hard, noted Smith, “but I would say especially in pediatrics, it’s usually very traumatic. To expect the nurse

who just went through that with a family and a patient to turn around then and take an entirely new patient, the mental load of that is really heavy. And so, to the best of our ability, we try to give them the option to go home.” At the same time, the facility understands that a nurse may want to stay at work instead of going home as a way of coping.

Back to Basics

As a nurse, you also need to take to heart the commonsense advice you probably give to patients about self-care, such as the following:

• Sleep and downtime. You may want to spend some downtime on your phone, but be wary of it, noted Roney. “You feel as if you are relaxing and having a positive experience. But all this time is going on, cutting into your sleep/wake cycle.”

• Nutrition and hydration. “If you talk to any nurse, most of us would agree we would put our needs after our patient, so there are many times we might miss a lunch break, or we may eat several hours later than we usually do because there might be something going on with our patient and we need to put their needs first,” said Roney. As a solution, “really be intentional and plan on bringing your meals and snacks to work.” Stay hydrated throughout your shift, noted Roney.  Simple measures such as making sure to take your breaks, eat your meals, and use the bathroom regularly while on shift are a start for

self-care, according to Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL, clinical practice specialist, practice excellence team, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Next, prioritize quiet times and activities that bring you joy each day.

Moments of Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can also help with self-care. In talking to an experienced nurse who was struggling, Smith told her, “You guys have to remember that the tiniest things you do make the biggest difference.”

Smith says, “Sometimes we must find and center ourselves around those tiny moments of gratitude. It’s easy to leave work and feel like your entire day was terrible. But really, you probably did many good things throughout the day.”

Louis Pilla is a seasoned publishing expert with over 20 years of experience providing content and digital products to healthcare audiences.

14 Focus: Nurses Week 2024
Howie, the golden retriever, and his handler, David, make their rounds. Sarah K. Wells, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL, is clinical practice specialist at American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Howie and David.

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Why Finding a Nursing Community Is Important

Busy nurses don’t always seek out professional organizations or groups dedicated to nursing, and for valid reasons. They need more time or energy to devote to a group, the meetings are inconvenient, or they see it as an extension of work. However, joining a nursing community is one of the most powerful personal and career moves a nurse can make.

“The importance of community is relevant to nurses at all levels of their careers,” says  Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN, a public health nurse who practices as a school nurse at a high school outside of Chicago. “The sense of community is a unifying force that fosters professional growth and enhances the overall impact of nursing practice.”

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PELCSN, is a public health nurse who practices as a school nurse at a high school outside of Chicago.

For nurses identifying with a particular group, such as a minority nurse or a nursing specialty, being part of a community of nurses is validating. “The best advice that I was given was to join a professional nursing organization and then to join my specialty nursing organization,” says Barrera, who holds longtime

membership in the American Nurses Association (where she is now anExecutive Member of the Board) and the National Association of School Nurses.

Having a community that shares your experience, whether personal or professional, is vital to a sense of belonging in a group. “As a Latina nurse, it was important for me to join a professional organization that authentically represents the diversity of my community,” says Barrera. “We can’t be what we can’t see! Once we see others who look like us succeeding in their respective roles, it gives us a blueprint to continue on our journeys.”

Joining a group is excellent, but what happens if nothing fits what you’re looking for?

For Danielle McCamey, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, FCCP, starting a group was the answer. McCamey, founder, president, and CEO of  DNPs of Color , started the organization several years ago. “I was trying to find that community when I was going through my doctoral program,” she says. Finding nothing that could offer support with a similar lived experience to what McCamey had, she decided to create it.

There is a shared language and a shared understanding that’s essential when you gather with other nurses. “A community helps offer you that validation you need,” says McCamey. “There is always someone who can say, ‘Here are some strategies to help you navigate that.’”

Joining a community offers opportunities and benefits that aren’t always obvious. “When looking at nurses from underprivileged backgrounds, the connections within a nursing community, especially through local chapters of professional organizations, can be most impactful,” says Barrera. “It gives these nurses access to financial resources—for example, scholarships, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities—that wouldn’t otherwise be afforded them.”

And a nursing community where you feel a good fit is different. “We must develop a sense of belonging and support,” says Olga F. Jarrín, PhD, RN, FAAN,  Hunterdon Professor of Nursing Research and Associate Professor, Division of Nursing Science at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey  and  Adjunct Assistant Professor, the University of Pesylvania, School of Nursing.

Jarrin co-founded the  Latino Nurses Network  with Paule Joseph, PhD, EMBA, MS, FNP-BC, FAAN, a decade ago because they sought other nurses who wanted to support and advocate for each other. “Nurses are dealing with high-stress situations that are emotionally demanding. It’s terrific to connect with other nurses and celebrate everyone’s success.”

Barrera agrees. “Community is important for several

Olga F. Jarrín, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Hunterdon Professor of Nursing Research and Associate Professor, Division of Nursing Science at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and Adjunct Assistant Professor, the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing. Jarrin is co-founder of the Latino Nurses Network.

reasons,” she says. “Having professional support in the form of a networking community is critical to exchanging knowledge, best practices, and resource sharing.”

Nurses also say the support they find in a community of nurses extends both ways. McCamey notices that even as more senior nurses help lead, they also need guidance as they move through leadership roles and situations. An organization that supports all levels of nurses will have members who share their experiences, both good and bad, to help other nurses take steps that produce results or avoid any potential pitfalls.

Nurses interested in personal and professional connections will find that most groups offer both organically. “Communities provide nurses with opportunities for ongoing education and professional

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Danielle McCamey, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC, FCCP, is the founder, president, and CEO of DNPs of Color.

development, for example, workshops and seminars,” says Barrera.

Nurses can also have more impact as a group. For advocacy purposes, a larger group of nurses can accomplish more, and that satisfaction is motivating. A network or group that is workplace based can work for change in policies and processes for your immediate needs, just as a group that isn’t specific to one location or workplace can take on broader issues in the industry.

If you can’t find the community that best supports your goals and needs, you can start one. “Nurses are the epitome of innovators and creators,”

says McCamey. “We identify gaps and create solutions.” If a nurse feels there is a community lacking in a certain space, there are likely others who feel the same.

“As you build that community, people will come,” says McCamey. “The key to success is networking.” That doesn’t mean showing up at social events and conferences, although those are tried-andtrue networking methods. McCamey says the pandemic removed barriers and that lets nurses form connections more easily. “You can reach out to people and ask for a conversation, and it’s socially acceptable,” she says. Before the

pandemic, the rules around outreach were more rigid, but now nurses have new opportunities. Use texting, group chat, social media groups, or even academic institutions to help make the desired connections.

McCamey feels the need for connection deeply, saying that if a community like DNPs of Color can help make one nurse’s journey easier, that’s essential. “Life is better in a community,” she says. “It is always inspiring to see people get nursing fires relit.”

Finding the right nursing community can make a difference between staying in the field and leaving it, for nurses who feel especially

burned out or isolated. “It reduces feelings of isolation,” says Jarrin. “It feels good to share accomplishments and successes. Sometimes it’s hard to draw attention to your achievements, but in a supportive community, it’s viewed as celebrating success. There’s a sense of, ‘We’re doing this together.’”

Julia Quinn-Szcesuil is a freelance writer based in Bolton, Massachusetts.

18 Focus: Nurses Week 2024

Creating a Culture of Celebration

This is the perfect time to celebrate all nurses! Your hard work and strength is appreciated. We hope you take time to enjoy some self-care, just for yourself.

Happy Nurses Week!

Self-Care Tips:

• Drink plenty of water.

• Take at least 15 minutes for yourself every day.

• Get outside and move for at least 30 minutes.

• Start up a hobby that connects you with others.

• Practice mindfulness self care.

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FNU was a proud recipient of the 2023 HEED Award for the sixth consecutive year.

Thanks to dedicated faculty and staff, FNU is being recognized for the third year in a row as a Great College to Work For.

FNU was honored to receive the 2023 AACN Award for Inclusive Excellence, Belonging, and Sustainability in Nursing Education.

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