Every day is a day of thanksgiving, but we officially celebrate Thanksgiving Day in November. Families and friends gather to enjoy each other's company and perhaps eat too much food. In the midst of the 2020 global pandemic and associated consequences and coexisting realities, including social isolation, restricted movement and travel, loss of jobs and health insurance, financial instability, uncertain living situations, children out of school, systemic racism, misogyny, essential worker status, fear of exposure to the novel coronavirus, illness, and the hundreds of thousands of lives lost in the US, we might find it difficult to "count our blessings." Initial grand intentions to celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in 2020 were forced to accommodate a stark awareness of the critical role nursing and midwifery play in the health of a community. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) usurped the attention and efforts of healthcare and other essential workers across the globe; unfortunately, the commitment of certain groups was not as consistent.
Despite all that is going on in the world today, NPs have much to celebrate this year during National Nurse Practitioner Week (November 8-14). As of this editorial, we are 290,000 strong!
Called to action
We look at how far we have come as a profession but are always reminded of the work we have yet to complete. During these turbulent times, we cannot let our guard down or reduce our efforts to meet the goals of the many professional organizations whose highest priorities include quality healthcare and improved patient outcomes. Dr. Loretta Ford said, "The nurse practitioner movement is one of the finest demonstrations of how nurses exploited trends in the larger healthcare system to advance their own professional agenda and to realize their great potential to serve society." We are once again in the midst of one of these "trends." Racial injustices and health disparities compel us to act. COVID-19 has taken the lives of more than 200,000 Americans, with disproportionate numbers among Black and Brown people; frontline workers are also representatively skewed toward these populations. NPs have steadfastly held a prominent presence in providing healthcare services in these communities. Changing course now is not an option. At one time or another, we have all felt that we have a "thankless job," but then patients remind us of the importance of our worth and caring.
Being thankful
I want to thank authors who have written for The Nurse Practitioner, peer reviewers who help maintain excellence, and readers without whom the journal would not exist. I thank my colleagues who went that extra mile and wrote an editorial for 1 of the 12 monthly issues; April 2020 marked my 200th editorial memo. I send special thanks to my publisher, everyone on the editorial staff, and members of the national and international editorial advisory boards whose dedication keeps the journal at the top.
My more than 16 years as editor-in-chief of The Nurse Practitioner have been a period of immense learning and growth for me. I am proud to be an NP and ever thankful for the many opportunities that have crossed my path. My ultimate purpose in all I do is very generic: to make a difference in some small way. Take a chance and become actively involved in the "demonstration" Dr. Ford mentioned. During this designated month of NP Week, let your voice be heard. NPs have much to celebrate. Count your blessings and give thanks. May God bless you all as we continue together to strive toward reaching the realization of our "great potential to serve society."
Jamesetta A. Newland, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, DPNAP, FAAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]