As we celebrate National Nurses Week, I want to take a moment to recognize our incredible nurses who are dedicated to delivering exceptional care to our patients, each other and the communities we serve.

I’ve been a nurse for 33 years and am honored to serve as the chief nursing officer for UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge. I’m so proud of the more than 450 nurses who provide care in our clinics, hospital and home care services every day across our community. Our nurses show up when fear and uncertainty are present, advocate for patients in need and offer comfort even when healing is uncertain. I love being a nurse because of the tangible difference we can make in our patients’ lives during their most difficult moments.

As our nurses often share, nursing is more than a profession — it is a calling grounded in empathy, service and commitment. Built on trust, resilience and compassion, our nurses’ influence reaches far beyond hospital walls. They help shape public health, advance quality improvement and strengthen the communities we serve.

Nursing also demands strength and adaptability. Our nurses navigate high acuity situations and the emotional toll of caring for others. Their work requires clinical expertise, emotional strength and flexibility in a constantly evolving health care environment. Through teamwork, mentorship and a shared belief that their work matters, our nurses remain grounded in purpose. The trust they earn — from patients, families, and communities alike — is built through competence, empathy and ethical practice.

You won’t just find our nurses at the bedside — they also are our leaders, educators and champions of safety and quality. They coordinate care, prevent harm and ensure patients receive evidence-based, compassionate treatment. From medication administration and infection prevention to early recognition of patient changes, nurses protect the wellbeing and dignity of every individual they serve. Patient safety is, and always will be, our nurse’s top priority.

One of the nursing traditions that I hold most dear is our Nursing Honor Guard, which stands as a powerful symbol of nursing values — honoring nurses who have dedicated their lives to others. Their service reflects the deep respect and reverence the profession holds, and through solemn ceremonial presence, our Honor Guard acknowledges the lifelong commitment nurses make to service, compassion and integrity. Their work reminds us that nursing is not only about how we care in life, but how we honor one another in legacy.

This Nurses Week, we celebrate not just what nurses do, but who they are. We recognize the resilience that sustains them, the compassion that defines them and the commitment to quality and safety that guides every decision they make.

We honor the past, present and future of nursing, and extend our deepest gratitude to every nurse who makes a difference — one patient, one family and one moment at a time. Happy Nurses Week to the professionals who continue to lead with heart, courage and purpose!

Kari Jones, chief nursing officer, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge.