A Thank You Letter to Nurses, Our True Heroes

I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words, they ought all to be distilled into actions and into actions that bring results.
– Florence Nightingale

To all the nurses who may read this,

As you may know, Nightingale was the 19th-century nurse turned statistician who not only discovered the link between hygiene and infection but launched a lifelong crusade around it. Ultimately, her work would save millions of lives. In the age of COVID-19, she continues to save lives every day.

I chose to begin this letter with a quote from Nightingale because what fueled her are the very same qualities that motivate the nurses I know today. Empathy for those in need, precise skill, and keen attention to detail. Here at Judge, I see these traits in the nurses we hire and place every single day.

You don’t do it for fame, ego, or glory. You do it because you are driven by a call to service. I see this in your words, but more importantly – and as Nightingale suggests – in your actions. They are the ones who administer lifesaving medications to us and who comfort us in our most vulnerable moments.

There have been lots of war metaphors going around as of late. I wish they were exaggerated, but for many nurses, they aren’t far off. You really are on the front lines of the pandemic. You are in the trenches, working tirelessly to keep us safe and healthy. In some cases, you are dealing with anxiety and stress most of us couldn’t handle.

It’s not a battle you signed up for, but it’s one that you bravely participate in.

If COVID-19 does anything good, it will be to bring into focus what we’ve known all along, and yet, couldn’t possibly say enough:

Thank you, nurses – you are true heroes.

Sincerely,

Mick Angelichio, President, The Judge Group – Healthcare