Letter: Wishing Nurses A Happy And Healthy Nurses Week

The following letter was submitted by Deborah L. Cronin-Waelde, chief nursing officer of MelroseWakefield Healthcare, in honor of Nurses Week.

Dear MelroseWakefield Healthcare Nurses,

I want to wish a happy and healthy Nurses Week to all of our nurses throughout the organization, and to thank you for all that you do.

The World Health Organization must have had a moment of clairvoyance when they declared 2020 to be the “Year of the Nurse.”

Never has the voice or the work of nurses been more prominent or valuable!

I don’t think anyone could have anticipated what we have encountered in recent months and how nurses have embraced the challenges they’ve faced. From the bedside, the clinics, the classroom and the boardroom, nurses have stepped up in ways they never thought they would. We have led with science, heart and soul.

During the COVID-19 pandemic you have all been pushed to your limits … fighting for your patients and performing like the heroes that your colleagues, families and friends know you are. COVID-19 has met its match here.

You’ve celebrated the victories and mourned the losses. You’ve bent, but you haven’t broken. No matter how difficult the days have been, you’ve never forgotten why you became nurses.

Your skill and compassion have never been more visible throughout our communities and across our organization including MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, all our community physician practices and outpatient services.

May 12, 2020 marks Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday… a special day in nursing history. We know that Florence was both a determined patient advocate, infectious disease innovator and a compassionate caregiver. I see these same traits in all of you.

An unknown author stated “The test of thankfulness is not what you have to be thankful for, but whether anyone else has reason to be thankful that you are here.” Our patients and our organization are truly thankful for all that you are!

So, please take time for yourselves and lean in on your nursing family. Be kind to yourselves. Have each other’s backs and stay strong! We will get through this…together.

With sincere gratitude,

Deborah L. Cronin-Waelde, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Senior Vice President Clinical Operations | Chief Nursing Officer

MelroseWakefield Healthcare