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A LETTER FROM THE DEAN
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Nurses have always been the frontline and backbone of health care delivery throughout the world but, through the last year, their work has become undeniably visible to all. As the COVID-19 pandemic upended all facets of life, nurses continued to put their patients first, connecting them with much-needed resources, working extra hours to stay with them in hospitals, nursing homes, and all settings when no one else could and mitigating the impact on vulnerable populations most at risk of worsening health outcomes because of the virus. Although it seems like we can see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the unacceptable levels of health inequity revealed will persist. While these inequities cannot be relieved by one health care profession alone, nursing is positioned to embrace this leadership opportunity by drawing on our legacy as patient and community advocates and health care experts and focus on partnerships with communities to co-create strategies to promote health equity. These are not easy times for anyone, especially nurses. But I can say, without a doubt, that I am prouder than ever to be one of them. Congratulations to this year’s Florence Nightingale Awards recipients for raising the bar for our profession and making a difference in people’s lives by improving care in our region.
Greer Glazer, PhD, RN, CNP, FAAN Dean, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing Associate Vice President for Health Affairs
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