You care. It’s not just what you do, it’s who you are.

And because you do, we are stronger.

The compassion, selflessness and dedication of nurses are appreciated even more this National Nurses Week. Jane Englebright, senior vice president and chief nurse executive at HCA Healthcare, says this is historically her favorite time of year. But this week is different, she says, because of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

“When the rest of the world is told to stay home, you show up. When the world is in chaos, you are calm. When fear is ever-present, you are bold. Each day, I’m amazed by your resilience. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your continued hard work during the past few months,” she says.

Themes of gratitude and appreciation are exemplified throughout the HCA Healthcare community, and since the beginning of the pandemic they have been expressed in many ways throughout our communities. Here are some inspiring  stories of how HCA Healthcare nurses go beyond the call of duty to care for their patients and each other.

COVID-19 has changed everything about how ICU unit coordinator Noel Edwards goes about her work. Noel, who serves at affiliate Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, La., shared her thoughts with us recently: “It has changed my everyday routine, from how I mentally and physically prepare for every shift to quarantining myself to prevent potential exposure.”

She expresses gratitude for having enough personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary equipment to appropriately care for patients while protecting herself. She also extends thanks to all healthcare workers on the front lines.

“Nurses, respiratory therapists, doctors, nurse practitioners, EVS, labs, radiology, etc., are crucial in providing a higher level of care,” she says.

These caregivers work so closely together that they know one another’s strengths and weaknesses and use that knowledge to make themselves and one another stronger.

“Our workload has increased, but we have adapted, communicated and come together as a team to provide the best care for our COVID-19 patients,” Noel says. “We are hitting this head-on and with the best attitudes possible. This trying time has only further proven what an amazing team of nurses I work with and what a supportive organization we work for. We bend but do not break and are firsthand making history during this pandemic. Through prayer, hard work and dedication, we as a community will make it through this.”

It’s stories like these that make Jane so proud.

“You are the differentiator for HCA Healthcare. Your dedication to continue to advocate for your patients throughout this crisis shows the caregiving heart that you have,” she says. “I am filled with gratitude and humbled to work for you and alongside you each day.”

Nurses also have seen overwhelming support from their communities through meal donations, handmade signs of gratitude and care packages.

One nurse was inspired to write a song about hope in spite of uncertainty. Cia Constantine, who serves patients at The Frist Clinic in Nashville, performed the song one morning and posted it on Instagram. She wrote that she just needs a melody sometimes to help her get through the day.

“In these anxious times we want to say that it will be all right,

But right now we’re on the front lines of this fight,

So keep your faith and hold on tight.”

She felt less anxious and more hopeful after writing it, and the response from her colleagues was overwhelming. Nurses like Cia are inspiring one another to be more hopeful.

Jon Ham’s first career was in business administration. But he had a desire to give back and serve those who were ill. The Los Angeles native enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Miami. Upon graduation, Jon wanted to challenge himself even further by caring for those who are extremely sick.

He discovered the HCA Healthcare StaRN Critical Care Residency Program and moved to New Orleans last May. After completing the 12-week residency program, Jon started as a staff nurse in the Neuro ICU at Tulane Medical Center and has since continued to grow and hone his skills.

When he was informed of a possible COVID-19 patient on March 10, Jon provided care without hesitation. Policies and plans of care have changed numerous times since then, but supervisors say he remains the consummate professional and team player, while maintaining a positive attitude.

“I’m biased as Jon’s preceptor,” says Zach Leonard, a nursing clinical supervisor in Tulane’s neurosurgical ICU. “I know that I speak for the entire unit that we are happy to have Jon on our team and can always rely on him.”

Jon humbly says that their success in the COVID-ICU is due to teamwork and support from HCA Healthcare and the New Orleans community.

“Everyone has stepped up to support each other in unexpected and beautiful ways,” he says.

“Through this global pandemic, Nurses Week is an intentional celebration of the 98,000 nurses across the HCA Healthcare enterprise,” says Jane Englebright. “Thank you for meeting this global health pandemic head-on.”

Click here to see the Nurses Week Video

For more stories of how HCA Healthcare colleagues are stepping up in the fight against COVID-19, read “Voices from the Frontline.”