Advocate Aurora Health celebrates National Nurses Week

National Nurses Week is May 6-12. Today, and every day, we celebrate our nurses by recognizing all that they do. Their dedication to our patients, families and communities is a testament to their passion and goal of helping people live well.

As a care manager in population health, pediatric nurse Tenesha Galvin knows continuity of care helps improve outcomes for adults and children alike. That’s why she and fellow nurses developed the high risk pediatric program. When children are discharged from the hospital, they step in to help families ensure their children have everything they need to thrive.

“To see patients who were hospitalized every month to not being hospitalized for a six month stretch speaks volumes,” she says. “It means they’re learning to manage their care and figuring out who to call before things get worse. That’s a huge win.”

For home health nurse Alli Wild, her clinical excellence and staying updated on the latest best practices are a big part of how she gets her patients on the road to recovery. Communication and building trust are big, too. She begins by getting to know them and explaining things in a relatable way.

“My patients need to know I am doing everything I can to help them,” she says.

Whether as a pediatric intensive care nurse, shared governance committee chair or soon-to-be Ph.D. student, Elizabeth Johnson is constantly learning. She feels being totally immersed in clinical excellence makes her a better nurse and ensures her young patients the best outcomes.

“It’s vital that nurses feel empowered to lead practice improvement efforts,” she says. “By doing so, we can make a difference for so many kids and families, as well as in the nursing profession.”

At the start of the pandemic, nurses on the heart unit at Advocate Christ Medical Center quickly realized they were uniquely positioned to help. Specially trained on a machine that temporarily takes over the work of a person’s heart or lungs so they can heal, the nurses knew the machine could help COVID-19 patients. The team jumped into action, helping many recover and return home – a clear reminder of the importance of their work.

“This definitely makes me look back and realize I chose the right profession,” says nurse Alexa Doyon.

Nurse Na Kita Butler knows many people don’t talk about mental health and may even view treatment as weakness. Inspired by her mother – her nurse hero – she’s now pursuing her master’s to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. She’s discovered those hesitant to seek treatment often find comfort with a nurse who understands their culture.

“Sometimes it’s just comforting to see the face of someone who may have shared experiences,” she says.

Coming from a family of health care professionals, becoming a nurse was a natural fit for Jason Carreon. But his training didn’t stop there. He earned certification in medical-surgical nursing, which he says, “brings me personal and professional pride, but also helps me anticipate the bigger picture when it comes to ensuring better patient outcomes.” It’s led his team to discover ways to improve processes, hone their clinical excellence and nurture strong teamwork for happier, healthier patients.