Once again, I would like to recognize the contribution of nurses and celebrate National Nurses Week by featuring student poems from Mr. David Theune’s class at Spring Lake High School in my community.

Appreciating Nurses Every Day

Every day, it seems, is a busy day in healthcare. It is sometimes difficult to be mindful of the caring actions you see in those around you. This is especially true when those actions become the norm. Every day, I get the privilege of working with committed and caring nurses in the office, at our local hospitals, and at the surgical center.

The poems written by the students below offer us a different perspective on the profession of nursing. I would like to dedicate this year’s post for Nurses Week to my nurse, Laura Mangione.

Student Poems for Nurses Week 2014

Beautiful Souls

By Alexiss Ferrell

the people that make a difference

give their life to the world

spill out everything for the helpless

never ending nights

that somehow change over to mornings

like dusk turning to dawn

the long hours they put in

for the living they don’t even know

though the living remember them forever

they make a change

they make hope

for the family and friends that need it the most

they make your day

they change your life forever

so for just one moment

recognize their work

and never ending dedication to you

recognize those long nights

those sunrises they miss

but somehow when they leave for home

the sun is up and shining

so devoted

these men and women

see them for who they are

open your eyes just a little

without souls like these

souls so caring

meant for recognition

these souls

such rare, beautiful souls

that shine through them so bright

belong to a selective few

these brilliant souls

are the ones of nurses

She Won’t Know You

By Ali Kilbry

She won’t know you

but she will love on you till you can go home again

She won’t know you

but she will dedicate her mornings to you with a smile that’s honest…and genuine

She won’t know you but she wants to, she strives to

She won’t know that last weekend was your daughter’s fifth birthday…or how your

struggling marriage is the cause of your tears, not the leg you got admitted

for that ails you after all these years

She won’t know the name of your pimple-faced babysitter, or the annoying habits

of your elderly neighbors

She won’t ever ask.

She respects your space.

But if you told her, trusted her…

intently listening would be her only task

She won’t know who will visit you, bring you flowers, or call…

So she will do it herself

a thousand roses she’ll haul

Up to your room,

share a smile,

fix the doom

She won’t know that the love she openly displays to you, is the only love you

have ever received

She won’t know she is changing your life with her soft spoken words; plunging

from a perfectly blue sky, like lovely droplets of fire

She’s a rare blood type.

She’s powerfully intelligent; she stands up for herself.

She presses her tongue to her cheeks when she’s extremely focused or piping mad.

She takes me on the coolest journeys I have ever had.

She married an honest man i call my dad.

Professional cuddler.

Comfort food expert.

She’s my mother.

She’s the most beautiful soul I know, and she’s a nurse.