National Nursing Week is about recognizing the incredible contributions that nurses make to our lives every day of the year - contributions that have never been more evident than during this pandemic. As countries around the world respond to COVID-19, the theme for this year, Nurses: A Voice to Lead -- Nursing the World to Health, is especially fitting as we recognize the nurses and nurse practitioners who are contributing to this effort.
We can all recall moments in our lives when we have felt the positive impact of a nurse. They are the calm professionals we see in the emergency room, or the compassionate carers at the hospital bedside of someone we love, and often they are the voice at the end of the line when we call public health. Nurses are a guiding force in our schools, hospitals, and communities.
Throughout the response to COVID-19, nurses have stepped up to provide exceptional leadership, coordination and support. Whether on the front lines, behind the scenes, or providing surge capacity to a partnering organization, they have been central to Canada's response.
As Canadians feel the weight of social isolation and physical distancing, nursing professionals continue to care for us. They are no doubt also feeling the pressure of extra work, changes in priorities and physical distancing. As always, nurses are a model of professionalism, demonstrating courage and skill in extraordinary times. I encourage all Canadians, including nurses, who need support to reach out to one of the many resources available to help, such as the new Wellness Together Canada portal, which provides mental health and substance use support.
