Valdez on Nurses Week

With National Nurses Week concluding recently, I’m proud of the contribution my fellow nurses on the front lines do for the communities in which they serve each and every day. Our health care system is stronger because of nurses who continuously put the patient first. From my experience, education is a gift which can be imparted on our patients. Underserved communities in particular appreciate the knowledge which nurses share and the sensitivity they take to make sure patients are informed. One challenge we often face is breaking down cultural barriers to get to the patients who need us most. Sometimes it means finding a nurse for a patient who speaks their own language – it’s that type of connectivity that helps open a dialogue and build the trust needed to best care for and treat our communities. In my own line of work at St. Joseph Hospital in California, my focus has been in the cardiovascular and diabetes space. I find tremendous joy in helping my patients navigate these health issues and putting them at ease. As a result, I see to it that my patients are the most informed they can be and receive the best possible care. Further, patients want to know what they can do to stay healthy and this is where nurses play an even greater role than many think. Nurses in particular are eager to share preventative health care knowledge and best meet the needs of patients in an ever-changing and diverse health care system. I was proud to celebrate National Nurses Week this year ...
Source: PHRMA - Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Source Type: news