Here’s to All the Nurses Who Show Up and Love Anyway

Here’s to the nurses who show up in conflict countries like Libya. 

Here’s to the nurses who watch the news and come anyway, who weigh the risk and decide that the children are worth it. Here’s to the nurses who go without seeing their own families and friends—sometimes for months at a time—so that children with no other way to get the heart surgeries they need can get their chance.

Here’s to the nurses who never stop learning, so they can give their patients the very best care possible.

Here’s to the nurses who relentlessly glean from international colleagues and local staff, who study during their night shifts while patients sleep.

Here’s to the nurses who don’t complain when doing their work.

Here’s to the nurses who jump in, no matter how smelly or gross the task. (Trust us, there’s really nothing like a post-operative diaper blowout.) Here’s to the nurses who stay focused on patient care, even when the jet lag is brutal.

Here’s to the nurses who work intentionally, so local staff can follow their motions and learn the very best care techniques.

Here’s to the nurses who gladly answer questions from those they mentor all shift long, who look for teaching moments, who make sure that each answer is understood.

Here’s to the nurses who know when the only treatment that will make a difference is a snuggle. 

Here’s to the nurses who make sure children in recovery hear care and encouragement in their voice, even if they don’t share the same language, and who never take a child’s post-operative grumpiness personally.

We get to work with some of the best pediatric cardiac nurses—and some of the best people—in the world. We couldn’t let National Nurses’ Week go by without showing our appreciation.