Empowering Angels: Celebrating the Heartbeat of Healthcare
MEDFORD, WI (OnFocus) – In the vast and intricate landscape of health care, amidst the beeping monitors and sterile corridors, there exists a group of individuals who embody the very essence of compassion, resilience, and expertise.
They are the nurses, the heartbeat of any medical institution, whose unwavering commitment to patient care illuminates the darkest of hours.
Each year during the month of May we celebrate their invaluable contributions during nurse’s week. While it is essential to recognize not only their profound impact but also the empowerment, they wield in shaping the landscape of modern health care.
“Nurses do not get into nursing because it’s easy,” said Autumn Marcis, a Clinical Nurse Educator with Aspirus Health. “Schooling is extremely difficult, the job itself is physically, mentally and emotionally challenging on a daily basis.”
Nurses are not merely caregivers; they are advocates, educators, and pillars of strength for those in their care. From the seasoned veterans to the fresh faces stepping onto the wards, each nurse brings a unique blend of skill, empathy, and determination to their practice. Their role extends far beyond administering medication or changing bandages; they are the frontline warriors battling illness and despair with unwavering resolve.
“It’s so much more than just holding a patient’s hand at the bedside; it involves a team of people,” said Jessica Faude, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for the Northwest Wisconsin Division of Aspirus Health. “Using your knowledge gained with all of the experiences we’ve had and seeing those positive outcomes, that’s what really drives me and is valuable.”
At the heart of nursing lies empowerment – the ability to effect change, to drive innovation, and to elevate the standard of care.
One example of that empowerment in action is at Aspirus Medford Hospital which recently achieved Pathway to Excellence Designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The designation is a global credential that highlights the commitment to creating a healthy work environment that empowers and engages nursing staff.
“The best part about Pathway is it’s driven by bedside nurses,” said Marcis. “So those direct patient care-led nursing teams are the ones getting us to our pathway designation.”
Marcis adds that empowerment of the nursing staff comes from recognizing that everyone has the ability to have influence, no matter how small.
Marcis was recently recognized for her commitment to the nursing profession as one of 15 nominees in Wisconsin for the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. The Nightingale Awards are presented by the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing.
Faude says that as the chief nursing officer for the region, she has immense pride for her team.
“I may be the chief nursing officer, but really, our teams are what made this happen. I am just one tiny little piece of the puzzle to help support that team. But really, they are examples of what is happening every day in all of our departments. And it took our teams embracing that and wanting to get involved that really helped get us to this designation.”
Aspirus Medford Hospital is currently the only Hospital in Wisconsin to hold the Pathway to Excellence designation. Several other facilities in the Aspirus Health system are in various stages of the process to achieve the designation.
Nurses Week is celebrated annually during the first week of May to coincide with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is often considered the founder of modern nursing. Florence Nightingale was born on May 12, 1820, and her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War laid the foundation for many of the principles and practices of modern nursing. Nurses Week serves as a time to recognize and appreciate the contributions of nurses to healthcare and society as a whole.
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Author: News Desk
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