Reasons to celebrate national nurses week

National Nurses Week (May 6-12) is celebrated annually to recognize the impact that nurses and nurse educators continue to make in the dynamic field of health care. When the American Nurses Association established this year’s theme: “Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring,” it strongly appealed to me in both a professional and personal way.

Thanks in large part to nurse leaders’ advocacy during the past few years, registered nursing has experienced a dramatic evolution for the profession’s advancement. These nurses and nurse educators have striven to build a strong foundation that can heavily benefit future nurses like me. By allowing aspiring nurses to practice their profession to its fullest extent, it allows me and my colleagues to lead and care to the best of our abilities.

This is why this year’s theme holds a special meaning to me. I am truly grateful to enter a profession that encourages the achievement of higher levels of education, a career path that promotes the expansion of diverse specializations, an aspiration that enriches the collaboration with health care providers and a professional endeavor that can help shape the future of health care. Indeed, nursing has a very bright outlook; I look forward to fulfilling my role in the advocacy, leadership and the delivery of nursing care in our community.

Joy Arcigal

President, student nurses association

Chamberlain College of Nursing

Addison campus