Back from vacation with a renewed mission.

I returned to work this week feeling rested after my time off. Unfortunately, the rested feeling was short lived. The hospital was extremely busy with a large volume of acutely ill patients. Although the nursing staff was tired and stressed, they continue to provide superb care to our patients. I am always humbled when I watch the Infirmary's nurses deliver patient care in such a kind, compassionate, and professional manner. Summer vacation time on the nursing units always seems to bring to light staffing issues especially now in this time of a growing nursing shortage. I have renewed my dedication to researching, developing, and sharing strategies to effectively deal with the nursing shortage. I have started to read, From Silence to Voice: What Nurses Know And Must Communicate to the Public, by Bernice Buresh and Suzanne Gordon and I feel even more committed to our wonderful profession of nursing.