On behalf of CipherHealth’s Clinical Team* and employees

When the World Health Organization (WHO) named 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, no one could have anticipated just what this designation would come to represent as a result of the global impact of the novel coronavirus on our daily lives. The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic is heavy on all counts, leaving its mark on our loved ones and our livelihoods.

In the midst of this crisis, nurses have run toward the line of danger as the rest of us retreat into the safety of our homes. They soldier on, meeting fear and tragedy with courage. In the face of adversity, as we grieve the countless lives lost in the casualty of the pandemic, nurses continue to answer the call to serve and responsibility to protect. They are all too aware of the immense risk to themselves and their families. It is precisely this conscious sacrifice for strangers – the type of sacrifice the rest of us only make for our loved ones – that makes all nurses heroes in the truest sense.

And so, this year more than ever, we look forward to honoring and elevating the nursing profession during National Nurses Week. It’s an important time to share our gratitude for nurses and their steadfast commitment to protecting, promoting, and improving healthcare for all. 

“May we hope that, when we are all dead and gone, leaders will arise who have been personally experienced in the hard, practical work, the difficulties, and the joys of organizing nursing reforms, and who will lead far beyond anything we have done!”  — Florence Nightingale

One of our favorite ways to celebrate nurses is through the annual CipherHealth Nurses Awards, which are presented to nominated nurses and nursing teams that have demonstrated extraordinary compassion and resilience in keeping their patients safe. By this time last year, we had reviewed hundreds of nominations highlighting nurses who personify servant leadership for the patients and communities they care for. 

But these aren’t normal times. Our world is facing a once-in-a-century public health crisis that will change healthcare forever. As nurses continue to put their lives on the line to save others – facing an unprecedented volume of critically-ill patients and a dwindling supply of protective equipment – we recognize the enduring legacy and impact of the nursing profession. 

As such, we are pleased to share that this year’s Fifth Annual CipherHealth Nurses Awards will honor all nurses. We salute all nurses for their leadership at the bedside and beyond during this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, and the resulting transformation that the healthcare industry will no doubt undergo. In the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing our gratitude and support for you, our front-line heroes that are redefining patient care.

“In this time of crisis, I am honored to have had the privilege of caring for those in need and now be playing a role in helping to transform healthcare to a place where patients and their families are at the center of a care delivery system; one that allows their voices to be heard and elevates the practice of nursing to new heights.” – Lisa Romano, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer

I have never been more proud to be a nurse. As I reflect on more than three decades of nursing practice: ICU, patient flow/transfer center operations, hospital administration, patient experience, and community health…I think of the countless nurse heroes I’ve had the privilege to partner with and learn from. The compassion and caring nurses are displaying during this crisis as they care for overwhelming numbers of critically ill patients is truly inspiring. Thank you. You are warriors. You are heroes. It is because of you that the sun will shine again. 

From our team to yours – we thank all nurses who are caring for and healing the entire nation. Thank you, healthcare heroes, for the sacrifices you make every day to advocate for your patients and save lives.  It is because of you that our nation will heal and our healthcare delivery system will evolve to better serve our patients and communities.

Editor’s Note: In the days leading up to National Nurses Week (May 6 – 12, 2020), we will be sharing the stories of CipherHealth employees and families who are showing their support for healthcare workers during the crisis. During Nurses Week, we’ll be publishing posts authored by the CipherHealth Clinical team,* from one nurse to another”. We hope you will enjoy and be inspired by these stories. 

*CipherHealth wishes to acknowledge the efforts of our Clinical Team for their leadership, support, and insights during this time of crisis, and always:

Lisa Romano, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer
Lyndsey Lord, MBA, RN – Population Health, Case Management, Outreach
Joy Avery, MSN, RN – Command Center Operations, EMS, Patient Flow, Patient Rounding
Mariane Carna, MSN, MBA, RN – Ambulatory, Surgical Services, Staff Rounding
Lucia Huang, RN – Clinical Content, Research