An open letter to Hillside’s nurses from Ann Cott, Hillside’s Executive Director of Health Care Services:
It’s National Nurses Day and the start of National Nurses Month! The theme this year is You Make a Difference. The global COVID-19 pandemic makes it even more important this year that we support and recognize all of our nurses who work with courage and compassion and under extremely challenging circumstances. Whether it is a national health emergency or routine daily care, nurses’ vital contributions impact the health and well-being of our communities, which is why the American Nurses Association selected the theme for this year as Nurses Make a Difference.
I know that each of you Makes a Difference at Hillside. Whether you work in the community, in a school, on a residential campus, in an group home, in Employee Health or supporting agency operations behind the scenes, You Make a Difference. That could be helping a child or youth to live a healthier life, supporting a staff member, comforting a family or making the agency and community a better place. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the difference you are making, but rest assured you are. Nurses are among the most trusted professionals and that brings a huge responsibility to each of us. We are leaders in our agency and communities, and are often looked to for advice and guidance, and even more so during this public health emergency. I am so proud and grateful to work alongside each and every one of you who have chosen to build your career at Hillside. This has been an extremely challenging time and I am amazed and humbled by how each of you has adapted during this global pandemic to work in new and innovative ways in order to continue to deliver excellent health care to the children and families we are privileged to serve.
Thank you for all you do every day. You are truly Making a Difference.
The first week of this month long celebration of the Nurse focuses on self-care. Nurse self-care is more vital than ever now as we face the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying stress, isolation, and anxiety. Use this week to focus on yours’ and your colleagues’ mental health and physical well-being.
Take care of yourself and be proud that you indeed do Make a Difference.