May is Nurses Month, dedicated to celebrating America’s more than 4 million registered nurses. If that’s you, give yourself a pat on the back. You make a big difference in your patients’ lives - maybe more than you know. In fact, “you make a difference” is this year’s theme. Here are five ways nurses are making a difference in their patients’ lives.

Nurses translate and educate.

• When the doctor arrives to explain a patient’s diagnosis and treatment choices, the patient may not understand everything about their condition or illness. Nurses play a crucial role in demystifying medical jargon and making the patient feel more comfortable asking questions.
• Nurses also provide important patient education by talking patients through taking medications and how to manage their illness or condition. 

They advocate.

• Part of a nurse’s job is to advocate for their patients, per the American Nurses Association code of ethics. Good nurses are committed to providing respectful care that considers a patient’s cultural beliefs and wishes. They also know when to advocate for the patient’s needs, whether that’s calling for the doctor or explaining patient rights to family members.

Nurses provide emotional support.

• When patients are diagnosed with a debilitating disease such as cancer, nurses provide emotional support as the patients process new, scary information and learn about what their options are. Good nurses come in all types, and they may be matter-of-fact in their manner, but they are there for their patients.

They communicate on patients’ behalf.

• When patients are discharged to go home or to an interim care facility, nurses play an important role communicating with case managers, social workers, or family members about what the patient will need in the next phase of their care.
• To convalesce properly, the patient needs someone to understand what they need for home care or other kinds of assistance. The nurse is that someone. 

Nurses humanize healthcare.

• Going to the hospital can be scary, especially for a sudden health emergency, and nurses are the first people arriving patients see. A good nurse knows how to put a patient at ease, explain how procedures will go, and help the patient settle their fear and anxiety. 

These are just a few of the ways nurses go above and beyond for their patients. Nurses can not only increase the quality of experience and care for a patient - they can literally be a lifesaver. If you’d like to consider nursing careers, Fortis can help you explore your options. Call us today at (855) 436-7847 and speak to one of our admissions advisors.