Inspirational Message

Nursing allows one's humanity to be expressed in the most trivial of circumstances, which is rare and invaluable. It provides an opportunity to use one's intellect, intuition, and skills to change outcomes that have tremendous significance for other people; the ability to heal the mind, the body, and the spirit is reserved for those who have critical thinking skills, confidence, courage, and compassion. The worth of the work cannot always be measured or seen, but that doesn't negate the value of what has been done. There will be days when we question that value, and there will be days when we wonder if any other profession has such value. Such is nursing (p. 235).

Karen J. Stanley, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, FAAN
ONS President

Note. From Stanley, K.J. (2004). Karen J. Stanley, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, FAAN. In B. Nevidjon (Ed.), Continuing the legacy: More voices of oncology nurses (pp. 231–235). Pittsburgh, PA: Oncology Nursing Society. Reprinted with permission.