Salute Our Nurses

Posted over 12 years ago by Regina Pommer

Denise McNulty, Naples

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Of the 3 million nurses in our nation, over 2,000 registered nurses are in Collier County. The nursing profession is the largest segment of the nation's health-care work force.

The Institute of Medicine released a report in October 2010 titled "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health." In this report, one of the key messages is that "nurses should be full partners with physicians and other health professionals, in redesigning health care in the United States."

Advanced practice nurses (for example, nurse practitioners) will play a crucial role in health-care reform.

Some 148,000 nurse practitioners practice in the United States today. The week of Nov. 13-19 is the 2011 National Nurse Practitioner Week and a time to celebrate this distinguished group of health-care providers.

To all nurse practitioners who live or work in Collier County, in appreciation and recognition for the great work that you do each and every day, I am proud to be your colleague.

To all the wonderful patients who are cared for by a nurse practitioner, thank you for choosing a nurse practitioner for your health-care needs.

To all the physicians who work with nurse practitioners, thank you for recognizing our value, knowledge and experience.