On May 6, we began celebrating National Nurses Week, which culminates on May 12, International Nurses Day. Florence Nightingale, who helped to shine a light on nursing with her organization and training of care for the soldiers in the Crimean War, would likely be humbled and pleased to see such appreciation. Much has changed in the provision of medical care since she passed away over a century ago, but the need for nurses and the dedication and compassion they bring to the care of their patients has not changed. We often forget how important the work of nurses is until we need their care and compassion ourselves. Hopefully, one positive aspect of the COVID-19 outbreak might be to reinforce the importance of health care providers, and especially nurses, in a way that continues long past the outbreak itself.
A Tribute for International Nurse’s Day from an Infectious Disease Physician
