By Haley Heisley

“Hi, my name is Haley, and I will be your nurse today!”

I introduce each article this way because that is how I introduce myself to each of my patients at the start of a shift. I started this blog when I graduated from nursing school back in May 2024, sharing my knowledge and experience through my first nursing job on a Medical-Surgical Unit.

Now I’m continuing to share my experience during my transition into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Seeing patients once illness has already struck made me want to come up with a way to provide health education before they need to come to the hospital.

National Nurses Month and Week is celebrated every year in May, where people across the country take time to recognize the dedication, service, compassion, and expertise of nurses. National Nurses Month and Week honor the critical role nurses play in hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, and communities all over.

Nurses are often the first healthcare professionals that patients encounter and are the last to provide comfort before discharge or during recovery. Their responsibilities go far beyond administering medication and checking vital signs. Nurses spend a vast majority of their time educating patients, advocating for better healthcare outcomes, supporting families during difficult times, and helping prevent illness through health education.

Health education is one of the most crucial tools for improving public wellbeing and preventing illness. Nurses are at the center of this effort because they interact directly with patients from all backgrounds and at stages of life. Through education, nurses empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Public health education includes teaching communities about:

• Disease prevention
• Nutrition and healthy eating
• Mental health awareness
• Diabetes and heart disease management
• Vaccinations and immunizations
• Maternal and child health
• Hygiene and infection control
• Substance abuse prevention

When people understand how to protect and improve their health, communities become stronger and healthcare systems become more effective.

These articles have covered many topics over the years that may apply to the general public or specific populations, so this month, with it being National Nurses Month, I wanted to try something different. Thanks for reading this month’s column!