I have been blessed to practice nursing for over 30 years. The profession
has been a gift that I have embraced with open arms. It has afforded me the
ability and opportunity to ease the suffering of others, nurture wonderful
friendships, and experience the stability and spirituality of who I am. This
devotion also brings with it commitment and responsibility as a patient advocate—
never turning away from what we nurses believe is right and never
compromising patient care for politics or self interest. I have often said that
the day I fail to hear a patient’s call bell or request for assistance will be the
day that I can no longer call myself a nurse.