Nurses: The Heartbeat of Healthcare

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Nurses stand as the heartbeat of healthcare, yet their invaluable work often goes unrecognized. This episode celebrates these extraordinary professionals who blend clinical expertise with profound humanity every single day.

Since my father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015, it hasn't been just the medications that kept him going—it was the nurses who remembered his name, saved him window seats during infusions, and transformed hospital visits from dreaded necessities into moments of genuine human connection. Similarly, when my mother needed emergency care after being poisoned, a compassionate nurse became "our angel" during a terrifying time. These personal experiences reveal what statistics confirm: while nurses represent the most trusted profession in America for 22 consecutive years running, over 40% report burnout, with one in five considering leaving the field entirely.

Through their example, nurses teach us four powerful life lessons we can all apply: being fully present when it matters most, leading with empathy even under pressure, embracing continuous learning throughout our lives, and supporting team members without hesitation. These principles transcend healthcare, offering a blueprint for more meaningful human connection in every sphere of life. Whether you've been cared for by a nurse, love someone who is a nurse, or simply recognize their contributions, this episode invites you to move beyond a single week of appreciation and commit to supporting these healthcare heroes year-round.

Have you been touched by a nurse's care? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and take a moment to thank a nurse in your life—through a message, a nomination for recognition, or simply by truly listening to them. The healing they provide extends far beyond medicine, and our gratitude should do the same.

Related episodes:
S1 E9 6 Tips to Avoid Burnout
S3 E7: 4 areas for balancing our health and wellness
Embracing Hope Through The Heartaches Series: Series promo on youtube: https://youtu.be/FV6KGYaxUa4
- Cerebral Palsy S4 E9   
- Lougerics Disease (ALS) S4 E10
- Cystic Fibrosis S4 E12 
- MS and Stroke S4 E13  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, friend, welcome to Holly's Highlights, a podcast
designed to encourage, inspireand equip you to intentionally
live your life full of purpose.
I'm your host, holly Kirby,motivational speaker, leadership
cultivator, marketingstrategist and personal
cheerleader.
Let's check out today'shighlights.
Hey friends, today I wanted totake a moment in honor of Nurse

(00:25):
Appreciation Week, dedicatingthis episode to the incredible,
resilient, compassionate andpowerful nurses who show up each
and every day to show care forothers, often at the expense of
themselves.
Whether you're a nurse, know anurse or have ever been cared
for by a nurse, this episode isfor you Now.
Nurses aren't just healthcareworkers.

(00:45):
They are the backbone of ourmedical system.
They are listeners, educators,advocates and, in many cases,
lifesavers.
But beyond the bedside, nursesteach us lessons we carry for a
lifetime.
They teach us resilience, theyshow us how to stay calm in
chaos, they model compassionunder pressure and, most
importantly, they remind us whatit means to be human and a

(01:09):
system that often forgets.
A nurse once said when you're anurse, you know that every day,
you will touch a life, or alife will touch yours.
Now.
That quote by an unknown authorspeaks volumes about the
emotional depth of thisprofession.
But let's talk facts.
According to the Bureau ofLabor Statistics as of 2024,

(01:31):
there are over 4.5 millionregistered nurses in the US
alone.
That's more than any otherhealthcare profession.
Yet more than 40% of nursesreport systems of burnout and
nearly one in five areconsidering leaving the
profession within the next fiveyears.
Now why?
Because while their work isinvaluable, it is often

(01:52):
invisible.
But here's something powerful AGallup poll has ranked nurses
as the most trusted professionin America for 22 consecutive
years.
That's just not respect, that'sreverence.
My dad was diagnosed withmultiple myeloma blood cancer
back in 2015.
And now cancer is never easyright Mentally, physically or

(02:14):
emotionally.
But what has made this journeymore bearable for him, even more
hopeful, is the team of nursesup at Huntsman Cancer Institute
here in Utah who have cared forhim every step of the way.
These aren't just medicalprofessionals to him, they've
become his friends, his people.
He has often actually lookedforward to his infusion

(02:35):
appointments because hegenuinely enjoys seeing his
nurses their kindness, theirhumor and their humanity.
They know his name, hispreferences, such as sitting by
the window.
They know his stories.
They don't just administermedicine, they provide something
just as vital connection.
That kind of care goes beyondthe clinical.

(02:57):
It's deeply personal, and it'sa powerful reminder that healing
doesn't only come from thetreatment one receives through
such a journey, but it comesfrom the people delivering it.
That is the heart of nursing.
Now, nurses have many things toteach us, but four things we're
going to focus on that we canuse as takeaways from nursing
professions is one be present.

(03:19):
Nurses don't multitask.
When a life is on the line,they focus, they listen and they
act with intention.
We had a hiccup of anexperience while going through
my dad's T-cell transplant lastyear during the summer and one
nurse came in and just dedicatedtime to listen.
There were many other patientsto care, for, many tasks to do,

(03:42):
but this nurse knew it wasimportant to hear my dad out.
To be in the room and show hisfull attention was only on what
was happening in that room.
To be present, it made a worldof difference in rectifying the
situation.
My friends, multitasking isimportant, yes, but so is the
sense of awareness to know whenwe simply need to be present.

(04:04):
Number two lead with empathy.
Even in crisis, nurses leadwith heart.
Years ago, my mother waspoisoned by some tea at a
restaurant and I share her storyin my book Facelift Embracing
Hope Through your Heartaches.
When our family arrived to theICU at the hospital, we learned
she was going to have to have aPICC line inserted.
Now we were scared.
We had no clue what was goingon.

(04:26):
It all was happening so fastbut our angel, as we refer to
the nurse who performed theprocedure, he exhibited such
empathy to us and ensuring usthat my mom was in good hands
with him as he was going to bethe one to place that pick line
in.
Even after the procedure, hecame out and he showed such
empathy in the journey that wewere going to have to be walking
through, yet also reassuring usthat all went well with the

(04:50):
step that he was a part of.
Lead with empathy, it goes sucha long way.
Number three keep learning along way.
Number three keep learning.
Nurses are lifelong learners.
In fact, most are required tocontinue their education yearly
just to stay licensed.
As you can tell, our family hasseen our fair share of hospital

(05:12):
visits.
Through many of those inpatientstays, we've had many a nurse
come in to care for us with whom, through conversation, we
learned that they were inschooling in some way, working
on their degrees, certificationsor recertifications.
Many have served as mentors asthey train others by their side,
and all of them have sharedtheir experiences as they

(05:33):
trained under others.
Even those who are in theirfinal field have learned from
each other different ways to dothings or tips on how to make
things easier for them or evenmore pleasant experiences for
the patient.
They're not only learning, theyare open to learning.
Now I do interviews to protectour culture with Chick-fil-A

(05:53):
here, the ones I represent herein Utah and one of the main
things I look for is having agrowth mindset.
Truth is, we have theopportunity to learn from others
every day, in good and badsituations, from those younger
and older, those moreexperienced and less experienced
, those in the industry andthose who aren't in the industry

(06:13):
or have never even stepped footin it.
But not everyone is open toactually learning.
Keep learning, my friends.
It's the journey, not thedestination.
And then, number four supportthe team.
Nurses collaborate constantly,because healthcare isn't a solo
sport.

(06:34):
I have always been so impressedhow nurses work as a team.
When I was in the emergencyroom years ago, a nurse really
struggled taking my blood and asshe finally got it and turned
to walk away, she passed out anddropped the vials and they
shattered all over the floor.
Now I just cried, as I knewthis meant that they had to

(06:55):
redraw.
Now, don't worry, I wasconcerned if she was okay and
she was.
Turns out that she was pregnantand hadn't told anyone yet, and
taking the blood somehow madeher pass out.
I'm not a nurse.
I don't fully understand howall that works or impacts each
other, but it did.
But another nurse came in andtook my blood.
They were there to support eachother, not beat each other up,

(07:17):
not point fingers or place blame, but step in, step up and
support their fellow nurses asone team.
Whether you work alone or youwork alongside others, we can
always look for ways to use ourtime, our talent and our
experience to support the team.
So how can we show appreciationthis week and all year long for

(07:40):
those heroes we call nurses?
Well, say thank you.
A genuine, heartfelt thank you,goes a long way, perhaps even
taking treats or a meal for yourlocal nurse team.
My dad has, on many visits,taken in donuts for his nursing
team when he gets his infusion,and every time I'm with him
there's a certain nurse that wejust love and I'll go up to the

(08:02):
cafeteria and get her herfavorite drink, which is a Dr
Pepper.
Just different ways to be ableto express your gratitude.
Another way is to nominate themfor recognition.
Programs like the Daisy Awardwere made for this.
Simply visitthedaisyfoundationorg to do so.
You can also keep eye in thedoctor's offices and hospitals
for comment and nomination boxes.

(08:24):
You know so many people seecomment boxes as a place to vent
of what's gone wrong.
But what if we start looking atthem as what's gone right and
turning in those compliments?
Go ahead and try it.
Third way is to send a message,a quick email or a card with
specifics such as you made mefeel safe during my surgery.
That can be incredibly powerful.

(08:46):
And finally, listen to them.
Nurses often know what's wrongwell before anyone else does, so
trust their expertise.
I was just talking with ahealth professional today who
was sharing with me theirfrustration of a family member
who's listening to othersinstead of the medical advice
and knowledge.
Now, it doesn't mean you can'tget second and third opinions or
present your research andfindings, but listen to the

(09:08):
nurse, their instructions, theiradvice, even, as time allows,
showing interest in them byasking questions.
You know things such as what'sbeen the most challenging part
of your day, then the best partof their day, or what is their
end goal on their path?
Just listen to them.
Now, as we close out today'sepisode, I want to leave you
with this.
Florence Nightingale once saidlet us never consider ourselves

(09:32):
finished nurses.
We must be learning all of ourlives.
Nurses teach us every day whatit means to serve, to comfort
and to lead from the heart.
The least we can do isrecognize them, protect and
uplift them.
So here's our call to actionWould you tag a nurse, text a
nurse or even thank a nurse?
And, if you're in a position ofleadership, listen to the

(09:55):
nurses.
Fight for better staffing, formental health support and even
for compensation, Because anurse's appreciation isn't just
a week.
It's a way of showing up forthem each and every day.
Now to every extraordinary nursewho has ever cared for me and
or my family in one way oranother.
You were there with me and myfamily in our most vulnerable

(10:16):
moments.
Your unwavering compassion,quiet, strength and even healing
presence have left quite themark on our hearts and in our
lives.
We're forever grateful for thelight that you brought into our
darkest times.
Thank you, and to the nextgeneration of nurses, including
my soon-to-be niece in love,who's currently in nursing

(10:37):
school, from the bottom of ourhearts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
You are seen, you are valued,you are the heartbeat of
healthcare and we can't wait tosee how you'll change the world.
Now, if this episode spoke toyou, would you please consider
sharing it with someone whoneeds to hear it?

(10:57):
And until next time, take careand take care of those who care
for us.
Thank you for joining me onthis journey of life.
I hope that today's highlighthas been encouraging, inspiring
and equipping so you can go outand live your life full of
purpose.
I'd be honored if you'd take amoment to leave a review or,

(11:20):
better yet, subscribe.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom, that's H-O-L-L-Y,c-u-r-b-y dot com.
Until next time, make it agreat day for a great day.