When the World Health Organization first designated 2020 as International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, nursing leaders everywhere saw an opportunity to honor one of the globe’s most trusted and valued professions. What they didn’t see coming was a pandemic that would certainly change the lives of nurses (and everyone else), how they cared for their patients and communicated with patient families, and even their standard apparel at all times – a surgical mask.
And, for a year that was to celebrate nursing, in-person celebrations would have to wait.
What the pandemic couldn’t do was stop nurses from demonstrating their courage, conviction and compassion for their patients and families.
To mark the excellent service of nurses everywhere, Sutter Health prepared a video tribute to its 16,000 nurses who continue to be a driving force in the Northern California communities that they serve.
The Year of the Nurse and Midwife marked the 200th birthday of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. She certainly would have been proud of what her profession has become.