I would like to write a detailed account of my overnight stay in the hospital, but as I was happily sedated for a fair portion of the experience, there are a lot of blanks in my memory.  There are a lot of blanks in my memory even when I am not sedated, but that’s another story.
 At any rate, one of the impressions that managed to stay preserved in my brain was the extent to which good medical care depends upon good nursing care. I had excellent nurses taking care of me, and I was very impressed by their knowledge and experience.  Nursing is hard work and I am sure that even the most dedicated nurses must feel underappreciated at times.  They work long shifts and many have to handle the disruption of night and weekend schedules while raising families.  It is no wonder that we are facing a nursing shortage – there are many easier ways to make a living. 
I was reminded about these impressions the other day at an event that marked the 125th anniversary of the MUSC College of Nursing.  Dean Stuart and her colleagues have done a wonderful job building upon the long tradition of high quality nursing education here.  The College has become a true leader in the field, with the development of on-line curricula and building a state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory.
One of the fund-raisers for the college to build these innovative programs is the sale of a white silicone wristband that reads “NURSESTRONG.”  I have worn my wristband now for a couple of weeks and it is a good daily reminder of how much I owe the nurses who took care of me.  If you want to purchase your own wristband and support the College of Nursing, please contact Denise Ciccarelli at ciccarel@musc.edu or 792-8421.  It is a nice way for patients and their families to thank the nurses who inspire us all.