Celebrated annually May 6-12, National Nurses Week salutes the men and women who have devoted their lives to health care through nursing. The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly shined a light on nurses and how they are bravely carrying us through this crisis.
“I am beyond impressed by the nurses who have chosen to lean into the situation (the COVID-19 pandemic), rather than pull away,” said Kimberly Alleman, BSN, RN-BC, director of nursing and patient care services at UT Physicians.
With constantly changing recommendations from public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nurses at UT Physicians banded together. From assisting with health screenings for patients and visitors at our clinics to performing COVID-19 nasal swab tests at our drive-thru sites, they were everywhere our organization and patients needed them to be.
Our 24-hour nurse triage line, staffed with 39 registered nurses, has continued to be a lifeline and great asset to many in the community, sometimes answering upwards of 1,300 calls per day.
Robin Riggs, MSN, RN, senior nurse manager for the Nurse Triage Center, admires her nurses’ ability to face whatever challenges may arise, including a pandemic. “My staff has remained focused on providing the best care possible to our patients.”
Nurses are there holding our patients’ hands through hard times, happy moments, and days that can change their lives forever. We are grateful beyond measure for their knowledge and compassion. Their dedication to providing care, even under these difficult circumstances, is nothing short of inspiring.
When asked about what it means to be a nurse, Betty Croffie, licensed vocational nurse with UT Physicians, said it is something special. “It’s not about how much work we do, but the amount of love we put into it. Every smile is an action of love and a gift.”
For pictures and quotes from some of our talented UT Physicians nurses throughout National Nurses Week, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
