Last weekend, people all over the country took a break from their busy schedules to give the women who gave them life the appreciation they so rightfully deserve.

In the week following Mother’s Day, another large group of caretakers is in the spotlight as hospitals and doctor’s offices across the country celebrate National Nurse’s Week.

It goes without saying that those who dedicate their lives deserve recognition, but here are some reasons you should take time out of your busy schedule to thank a nurse today:

• Much like the mothers we celebrated last weekend, these individuals are responsible for the well-being of all those at their charge. These people pour in endless hours to make sure their patients are comfortable and receiving the attention they need, oftentimes going above and beyond the call of duty to do so.

• They put in countless hours of training and education to take care of you. These individuals aren’t only compassionate enough to care for people outside of their families, but they’re trained to do so well. Before your nurse was taking temperatures or reading your blood pressure, he or she spent hours upon hours pouring over textbooks, sitting in lecture halls, taking exams and doing labs — all to take care of you!

• Nurses are the face of any hospital or doctor’s office. The welcome wagon, so to speak, these individuals are often responsible for the positive image of the facility they work at, and they put up with endless questions and complaints in addition to their hefty workloads.

• Nurses often serve as the liaisons between patients and doctors, making them advocates for the sick and injured. These individuals often have to chase down doctors, call pharmacists and hunt down specialists to take care of their patients. So if you want something done in a medical facility, it’s worth being nice to your RN.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.