Recognizing Nurses for Nurses Week 2020, May 6 - May 12 ... especially in this COVID-19 situation.

With Nurses' Week coming up from May 6 - May 12, I am writing to thank all "modern day Florence (and Floyd!) Nightingales" for being so integral to the teams I work with in providing holistic care to clients, as well as for being such great role models for all of us in reaching out to all those in need ... so surely evidenced by them in these COVID-19 times!

As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I particularly recall the late Jo Ellen Smith RN, whom I had never met but whom had a made an indelible mark on me per my then first hospital work back in the late 1980's at the health center in Algiers that had been named for her.

Jo Ellen, who was unfortunately killed in 1973 during her generous outreach work to a nearby needy area, demonstrated care, compassion and professionalism ... traits that I see all the time in my work with Nurses.

So if you are also blessed to see a nurse this week and anytime, be sure to give them their well deserved recognition ... maybe through a good old fashioned hand written card, a letter, an email or flowers, since we are all prudently social distancing.

Like RNs, LCSWs and all health care professionals know what the hallmark to denoting our health care performance and professionalism is:
"If you didn't write it ... you didn't do it!"

And in these ongoing COVID-19 difficult times, we honor Nurses for their true dedication to not only “writing their love” to us so well by their actions but also for their compassion and love by putting their lives on the line for us and our loved ones.

Nurses, “You Are So Beautiful” to me, as was noted by Joe Cocker:

YouTube Song for Nurses: “Nurses' Week Blessings: 'You Are So Beautiful!'” 2018 and NOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDJJjSVrhgM&t=22s