Entrant's Name
Jennifer B.

Designer(s)
Jennifer Balzi, Tara Ackerly, Amy Lupinski, Angela Reich, Katina Wall

Story/Message
The dedication of this tree is to my mother-in-law who was a Columbia University graduate of Nursing. She would tell me of her days spent caring for the children in the pediatric units and assisting in the care of a child receiving the first liver transplant. She would iron her uniform nightly and prepare for morning rounds with the medical team making sure the ward looked pristine. She was a charge nurse, a respected clinical expert and leader to the nursing team. I will always admire and reflect on her stories to give me strength and support to advance my nursing career into the 21st century.

The nursing profession has evolved over the years. Even with the evolution of the nurse, the foundation of nursing has not changed. Nurses value giving exceptional care with compassion, competence, courage and confidence. This year particularly has challenged nurses to demonstrate these strengths of their profession. Someone recently said to me “it is the year of the nurse”. To me, being a nurse is not just a profession, it applies to anyone who demonstrates these components when caring for an individual in need whether in a hospital setting, in a home or in the community. It is also because of the TEAM of essential people that surrounds the nurse that it can be the “Year of the Nurse”.

Special thank you to my “TEAM” Tara Ackerly, Amy Lupinski, Angela Reich, Katina Wall and my family for helping me bring this dedication to life to support the "Year of the Nurse”.

Stay Strong,
Jennifer Balzi