I was so glad fellow reader Jamie Kuhlman, BS, RN, wrote a heartfelt response to Maureen Shawn Kennedy's December 2013 editorial, "Straight Talk About Nursing," in the February issue's Letters column. Many nurses give their all.

From early in my career, I've seen that patients who have visitors are treated and responded to differently than those who have no one visiting. I don't think this is out of malice. Nurses simply can't provide the type of care they'd like to all of the time.

In some facilities where I've been employed, every patient was assigned a representative employee of the hospital (not necessarily a licensed nurse). It was helpful to think that someone was involved with each patient's care. Everyone was expected to be a part of this effort, including the facility administrator.

Done in a joyful, generous, nonpunitive manner, this practice can make a difference.

Cindy L. Vardy, BSN, RN

North Wales, PA