Letter to the editor

The leadership team at DMHA is honored and humbled to recognize our nurses the month of May for their personal dedication, commitment, courage, and unwavering compassion. The American Nurses Association encourages a month of celebration and professional exploration into the complex layers of what it means to be a “nurse.” DMHA is providing recognition throughout the month in alignment with the American Nurses Association (ANA).

May is the month that we recognize and celebrate the profession of nursing. The American Nurses Association (ANA) dedicates the entire month of May to recognizing the 4 million nurses across the united states. Amazingly, 13 of those 4 million nurses dedicate their professional nursing careers here in Ekalaka. This article is dedicated to our nurses’ personal commitment, compassion, and courage for all they do every day to take care of our patients and community. Rural health care is truly a special calling and the professional commitment that our nurses make to ensure that our patients and community are the priority is remarkable. Our nurses truly and compassionately care about the patients that come to DMHA for care. Each one of our nurses brings something special to the care that they provide. In addition to the knowledge, skills, and experience that they collectively share, most importantly they lead with their hearts first and foremost.

Nurse’s month is traditionally celebrated with a different theme each week of the month. May 1-7 is dedicated to cultivating and maintaining optimal mental health and physical well – being. May 8 – 14 focuses on honoring our nurses for leading, excelling and being innovative. May 15 – 21 highlights the vast professional organizations and resources available to nurses to support their professional growth. May 22 – 31 is dedicated to the work nurses do in the community.

Please reach out to a nurse today and each day this month to recognize and celebrate our wonderful, dedicated nurses.

Fun fact about the profession of nursing: Nurses remain the number one most trusted profession for 21 consecutive years. According to the 2022 poll conducted by Gallup, nurses possess “high and very high honesty ethical standards.” Nurses out ranked 20 other professions in the poll.

With sincere and thoughtful gratitude for our nurses,

Sheila Sherman CNO

Katie Stieg ADON

Ryan Tooke CEO

Carla Dowdy CMO