As Nurses Week 2025 comes to a close, I hope you’ve had a chance to celebrate—both personally and within your organizations. You’ve heard powerful stories, seen inspiring spotlights, and perhaps even reflected on your own journey in this incredible profession. But I believe that no celebration should conclude without a call to action.
So, as we wrap up this week, I want to leave you with this question:
What will you commit to—today—to advance our profession?
Nursing Is a Profession- Let’s Own It
We must continue to elevate nursing as a profession. That means embracing the tenets of professional practice and taking ownership of our individual growth and our collective future.
These are some of the tenets I hold close:
- A standardized body of knowledge and commitment to education. Whether you’re working toward your baccalaureate, considering a master’s, or pursuing national certification—keep going. Lifelong learning is not optional; it’s foundational.
- Shared decision-making. Nurses must have a voice—not just at the bedside but in the boardroom. If your organization has structures in place, get involved. If it doesn’t, advocate for them. Nursing owns nursing.
- Evidence-based practice. Let’s stop doing things “because we’ve always done them that way.” Ask why. Seek the research. Be open to better ways.
- Autonomous practice. To me, autonomy means making the right decision for your patient in the moment it matters most. That’s not breaking rules—it’s honoring the humanity of care.
- Relationships with our patients. See the whole person. They’re not just “the gallbladder in room 210.” They are mothers, fathers, children, and neighbors.
Ending Horizontal Hostility—Now
This one is personal. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it. And I’ve read the statistics that should stop us in our tracks:
- 73% of nurses report being a target of horizontal hostility.
- 55% have witnessed a colleague treating another poorly—just in the last six months.
- 88% say they work in an environment with gossip or divisive teams.
And yet, only 20% of these issues are ever addressed. Why? Fear. Discomfort. Silence.
But here’s the truth: Silence kills.
In one case study, nurses avoided calling an on-call physician out of fear—and patients suffered for it. We cannot afford to let fear override our responsibility to speak up.
We must develop a culture of intolerance for hostility and a comfort with crucial conversations. You deserve to work in a space where professionalism, respect, and safety go hand in hand.
So I Ask Again… What Will You Commit to?
Not next week.
Not next month.
Today.
Will you pursue a certification?
Start mentoring a colleague?
Speak up in a shared governance meeting?
Choose kindness when someone feels isolated?
Let’s create our future.
Not just for ourselves, but for the next generation of nurses who are watching—and counting on us to make things better.
Gen is driven by the desire to help clients create organizational excellence through measurable improvement. She thrives on helping others reach meaningful goals, including Magnet® designation.
