Reflections on the evolution of nursing

Personally, my devotion to caring for people started in my family. I helped to care for my great-grandmother when I was a young child, fueling my desire in high school to join the Health Occupation Students of America, a group known today as Future Health Professionals. My career started in a nursing home as a Certified Nursing Assistant, and then I graduated from Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) school and resumed my work in nursing homes. A few years later, I had the opportunity to join Holston Medical Group (HMG), where my career grew.

For me, being a nurse has always been about family. As nurses, we share the bond of our passion for care, and we grow together within our units, serving patients and caring for them as though they’re our own family.

While so much is different in the medical profession since I became a nurse more than 30 years ago, one thing has never changed: the heart and passion that it takes to be a nurse. With millions of nurses around the country, these frontline warriors are the backbone of the healthcare industry. Our HMG nurses are here through it all for our patients, playing a critical role as trusted advocates to ensure everyone receives quality care and services.

Dr. Jerry Miller, one of the HMG founders, recruited me in 1994 to join the great work that HMG was doing in this community. I jumped at the chance because HMG’s mission to improve patient care in our region matched mine.

Communication has also changed a lot, especially with the emergence of the internet and apps like our patient portal. Instead of having to track down patients on their phones, nurses can introduce our patients to the FollowMyHealth® portal. The portal allows patients to talk to their care team through tools in the app and online. Patients can access their medical records at all times of the day and night, so conversations with your providers about your health can happen almost in real-time. Whether it’s on the phone or in the office, we as nurses love to talk to our patients to ensure we continue to be collaborative and respectful during all of your health needs.

Thanks to our roles being so ingrained in patient needs, we get to know the patients and doctors that we work with so well that we’re able to anticipate what they’ll need. Our patients and doctors put so much trust in nurses to understand and take care of them.

The pressures nurses have faced in recent years have transformed the profession. Many nurses continue to navigate demanding workloads, high-stress situations, and emotional challenges while providing compassionate care to their patients.

• burnout and workplace stress remain ongoing concerns
• many nurses seek greater support and recognition for the work they do
• workplace safety continues to be an important issue in healthcare settings
• healthcare organizations are exploring ways to support nurse well-being and retention

I’m so proud to be an HMG nurse and that our medical group recognizes nurses while celebrating their agility and dedication.

Nursing is a rewarding job and a path that I’m so thankful that I took. I was recently reminded of how vital nursing is when I took a relative in for a doctor’s appointment. My family member apologized for her frequent communications through the portal before the appointment.

The nurse looked at my loved one and told her that there was no need to apologize. “You are the reason that I’m here,” she said.

To me, that’s what it means to be a nurse.