Nicely written! For me, the frosting on the cake


is patients and their stories. Encourage them to write them down to preserve their legacy.


— Paula Via Nurse.com comments (Nurse.com/Article/EOS/Wise-Nurse)


A May 13 Facebook post asked nurses to tell us in five words or less how nurses are making a difference in healthcare delivery. Here’s how readers responded.


Advocating tirelessly for all equally — Racheal Hignite


Thriving amidst chaos — Deb Hill Beresford


Advocacy, safety, competent compas- sionate care


— Noreen Kelly Bristow


Nothing can replace my instincts. — Linda Villano


Providing safe compassionate care — Janice Kehs Hunsberger


We keep people alive. — Maggie Collins Bradley


Patients are the main focus. — Lisa Marie Brown Hughes


Ensuring safe discharges — Suann Moore


Patient advocacy and respect — Heather Martin Batt


Bedside, backside, cribside, coffi nside dischargeside


— Tim Way


School nursing I loved the article, “Game Changers” (Nurse. com/Article/Game-Changers). Andrea Tanner spoke to this school nurse’s heart. It is not easy to summarize in a few short paragraphs the impact RNs in the commu- nity, especially within the school setting, have on children and families. Band-aids and Bactine is certainly far from what the school nurse spends her professional day doing. Helping the student succeed in the classroom by making sure they are healthy and ready to learn is the primary goal. Working with policy change and public health departments helps those of us at the local level help families gain control of their health. Thank you for an excellent article.


— Valerie S. Rogers, RN, PHN, MEd Murrieta, Calif.


Rural health The article, “Healthcare in the outlands” (Nurse.com/Article/Healthcare-In-Out- lands), hit a sore spot. Not all rural hospitals are friendly to outsiders, even if they are in need of nurses. My hardworking wife and I made the move to the country. She got a job at the local hospital, we met all the locals, checked out the job market, etc. One day, she was let go. We heard that we supposedly didn’t fi t in with the locals. No one in town would hire her. We moved back to the city, and her old employer welcomed her back with open arms. Make sure you


will be accepted in the community before the move, or you might regret it.


— Husband of RN Apple Valley, Calif.


Diversity in leadership I’m in awe of the leaders who surround me. But the majority of nurse leaders are of Caucasian descent, with barely a handful of nurses from various cultural backgrounds. This is a signifi cant disadvantage to the pro- fession and our patient population. Nurses can provide culturally competent care re- gardless of their own culture. However, diver- sity in the workplace speaks volumes about the purpose and values of the organization. I believe in the importance of con-


necting with our patients regarding their values and beliefs. Since nursing school, we are taught to harbor an open-minded, respectful perspective to be sensitive to patients’ needs. Why does our leadership representation fail to adequately refl ect our patient population? This concern primarily goes back to nursing school admission de- mographics and healthcare organizations’ recruitment strategies. Change must occur from within these organizations. I hope to be part of that change as I advance into a leadership role and refl ect the diversity our profession desperately needs.


— Lisa Marie Walsh, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC Marietta, Ga.


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