How proud I was... I could finally wear that white uniform and the cap of my school of nursing... Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. The cap was the symbol of an eagle, and I was now ready to open my wings and fly free. Little did I know that this would only be the beginning of a long life of learning, and a life of caring. I had no idea how many people's lives I would touch and what a profound effect that these patients and their families would have on my own life.


I graduated with the award of excellence in bedside nursing. An ultimate reward for anyone wanting to spend a career at the bedside. But now I had an award that I would strive through the years to honor. I would come to understand that the most precious gift a nurse can give a patient is the gift of trust... the trust to care for your life and to be your advocate. Is there anything more daunting than to know you can make such a profound difference?

With this in mind... I share with you my experiences and look forward to your comments. There are millions of nurses in the world who on a daily basis give loving care to their patients, relieve pain, save lives, comfort the dying, provide support to families and do so with little public recognition. I celebrate each of these nurses and hope you will take the time to thank those nurses who may touch your life.