National Nursing Week

This week is National Nursing Week in Canada, and according to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), the theme this year is ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead—Nursing the World to Health.’  

Never could we have imagined that our world would be impacted by a global pandemic, but to the nurses and healthcare workers who spend their days caring for the lives of others: Thank you for working so hard to keep everyone healthy and safe.   

We can’t begin to imagine how incredibly difficult it has been to work and balance everything in your lives. And yet, you’ve remained resilient and have overcome these challenges, while practising physical distancing when you need support the most.   

In celebration and acknowledgement of National Nursing Week, we’ll be sharing diverse stories from members of the Athabasca University (AU) community. All have amazing stories to tell, some at the beginning of their AU journey, others working on the frontline in the NICU while teaching and supporting learners, and some who reached the end of their studies despite a global pandemic interrupting life as they knew it. 

Nurses, you are the caregivers, hand-holders, healers, and supporters. You inspire us every day, and we admire you for all you do. While we all practise social distancing, and many of you are armed with personal protective equipment, please accept our sincere appreciation from everyone at AU 

Let’s rally together to show appreciation to the nurses who have impacted our lives

If you’ve had a nurse who has impacted your life, please share it with us so we can show how much the AU community appreciates them.  

Tag us on social media or send us an email and share a short story, or a few sentences about a time a nurse has had an impact on your life.  

 Maybe you or a loved one were hospitalized, and you had a nurse who went the extra mile. Or, maybe you had a nurse who just showed you compassion when you needed it most. Whatever your story—we want to hear it!  

 If you have pictures, please send them along too. Together we can show nurses how much we appreciate all that they do! 

 And to AU’s learners, alumni, and faculty who work, teach, and support the nursing community, we thank you.