the last hours of their long marriage and lives has become a great source of comfort for the family . Other families have been able to greet a new baby or an aging parent through a window because of the compassion of a nurse who understands the holistic nature of healing .
Lay people , like me , may not be fully aware of the work and skill , the training and education , that goes into caring for and healing people . We don ’ t always hear about the work nurses undertake every day in the management of healthcare workers , the education of new nurses , or the development of leaders and managers .
At MyNextSeason . com , we specialize in helping individuals and companies make important career transitions ; we work with leaders in transition every day . We cannot help but notice the leadership on display in the nursing profession and the transitions undertaken to meet the needs of this pandemic from showers installed in hospital locker rooms , to plastic sheets put in place to designate red ( infectious ) and green ( noninfectious ) zones , and to the procurement of equipment , as well as the arduous protocol of suiting up for each new patient and then carefully removing PPE after each patient visit . Through it all , nurses continue to adapt to the pandemic with amazing professionalism and compassion . And you are still at it .
Debbie Dellinger is the Director of External Engagement at MyNextSeason . com . She is a contributing author of the book , Living into Your Next Season : Moving Forward After the Crisis of 2020 . In addition , Debbie spent five years as Board Chair of The Hope Center , a not-for-profit dedicated to developing healthy communities in Kansas City through outreach , where her priorities included a charter school , a health clinic , and economic development and housing initiatives . Before transitioning to her career serving not-forprofits , Debbie led a software development center for GE Consulting and supported federal benchmarks for Honeywell Information Systems . She received a BA in creative writing , journalism , and psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University .
Florence Nightingale , the Lady with the Lamp , whose 200
th birthday we celebrate this year and whose pledge is recited at each nurse ’ s pinning , would be awe-struck with the nursing profession today . You deserve our pledges to stay home , the 7 o ’ clock standing ovations , the refreshment and meal deliveries , the childcare support , and our respect and gratitude . Thank you for caring for us , healing us , standing in for us , and leading us during this pandemic . n
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