By: Kathy Hubbard
It’s National Nurses Week, so I want to pay tribute to all the nurses in the county and particularly those who work at Bonner General Health. Charles Dickens said, “Nurses have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.” Isn’t that the truth?
Then I found an anonymous quote that said, “You know you work in healthcare when you can discuss puke and bowel movements at the lunch table and no one flinches!” Oh yeah, that’s true too.
I asked long-time BGH nurse, Sharon Bistodeau what the best part of nursing has been for her. She said that first of all she loves the profession.
“Helping people is fulfilling,” she said. “You see life from beginning to the end. And nursing can take you anywhere you want to go. I’ve worked on an ambulance, and I’ve worked with ski patrol on the mountain. I’ve worked in just about every department in the hospital, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing says the prediction for expanding the need for nurses will increase by 6 percent over the next decade. “The RN workforce is anticipated to grow from 3.1 million in 2022 (the most recent data) to 3.3 million in 2032.”
The growth for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), which includes nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives is estimated to grow by 38 percent during the same time period.
There are several websites extolling the virtues of becoming a nurse with the goal of interesting students to join the profession. Johnson & Johnson Foundation put out a booklet called Exploring Nursing Pathways. You can download a pdf of it, if you’re interested in learning more details about becoming a nurse.
“Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, and their contributions to patient care, health systems and health equity are essential. Nurses provide hands-on patient care, conduct critical research, help improve access to care in places where it is limited, prescribe and administer medications, provide support and education, coordinate services and so much more,” it says.
They also say that nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. And it should be no surprise that nursing was named the “Most Trusted Profession” for the 23rd year this year. Florence Nightingale would be proud.
And speaking of Florence Nightingale, she would be celebrating her 205th birthday this coming Monday. An interesting note about her is that she became bedridden due to an illness she caught while treating soldiers during the Crimean War. But even while ill, she was advocating for health reform. She was noted for saying, “Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” She was 90 years old when she died. It’s no wonder the “Lady with the Lamp” is also called the “Mother of Nursing.”
Nursing today is much different than in Nightingale’s day, Johnson & Johnson’s booklet says that now they are also leaders, innovators, educators, change makers, data analysts, dot connectors, problem solvers, advocates, and so much more. With over 100 specialties in nursing, there is literally something for everyone who is interested in a nursing job.
“As a nurse, you are there to make a difference and care for your patients at a time when they are sick and may feel most vulnerable, in the sad times, like when patients receive a heart-breaking diagnosis, as well as in the good times, like when a healthy baby is born,” the booklet says.
I can’t say enough nice things about every nurse I’ve ever known. Each and every one has been committed, professional, compassionate and knowledgeable. If you want to join that elite sector of healthcare, there are many ways to do so. Start by searching online, or by reading Johnson & Johnson’s booklet, or by talking to the career counselor at your high school or college.
A career in nursing is challenging, but it’s also rewarding. Nurses make a huge difference in our lives by facilitating the best outcomes possible.
If you don’t want to be one, that’s okay too. But this week is a good time to tell one how much you appreciate what they do. I know I will.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on May 7, 2025.
