Dear Nurse Colleague:
We are in the midst of an evolving healthcare environment that will continue to shape and further define the role of our profession in the provision of quality care. As the external environment continues to impact us as caregivers, I am reminded that there are several constants that anchor and define nursing. Above all, the issues of trust and respect are perhaps the most important.
We feel the pressures of providing the very best levels of patient care every day that we arrive at the hospital to begin our shifts. As we continue to dedicate ourselves to our patients, we must maintain a strong level of respect for ourselves and for those who surround us in the continuum of care.
While I have only been at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for a matter of months, my experience in nursing over many decades has taught me that without respect we are incapable of meeting our mission of providing exceptional care. I also recognize that stresses in the environment can distract us from that mission.
The month of September should be a particularly challenging one for all of us. The hospital and the Massachusetts Nurses Association will be engaging in final negotiations to reach an agreement on a contract that will provide a fair economic settlement, will foster a continued development of trust, and will build mutual respect.
I can assure you that we will work hard to achieve all three of these goals. There is a deep understanding that nurses provide the foundation of quality care here at BWH, and we are only focused on building upon that foundation to further our successes.
Thank you as always, for your continued focus on providing exceptional care for all of our patients.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kruger, DNSc, RN
Vice President, Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer