SCOTT PRUDEN • EDITOR//PHOTO BY |
I am not, nor have I ever aspired to be, a nurse. I am, however, married to one, which gives me a certain amount of insight into both the personal and professional lives of these unsung superheroes of the health care world.
And let me tell you, they work hard.
If the Marines, as the old recruitment ads said, do more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day, nurses do more in a single 8- or 12-hour shift than the rest of us do in a week.
I’ve seen that from both the point of view as a nurse’s spouse and as a patient. I hear nightly the challenges and triumphs of my wife’s work as a pediatric nurse practitioner, and I also know from first-hand experience how a nurse who is otherwise a stranger can help patients feel supported, cared for and safe.
For many nurses, it’s less of a job than a calling—something they couldn’t imagine not doing. They’re not in it for themselves. They’re in it for us, the patients—the people in need of the special type of care and support that only nurses provide. They rarely seek reward or thanks, but they most certainly earn it.
As such, it’s a pleasure for me to bring you this year’s Top Nurses, detailing those in the nursing field who have distinguished themselves among their peers. I was also happy to green-light the topic for the accompanying feature story about the expanding role of nurses in primary care.
Today’s nurses still fulfill that integral role as the bedside medical professional, while also serving in valuable roles as administrators, educators and advocates for both patients and each other. In short, it’s hard to imagine how the health care system could ever function without them. So, thank you, nurses. We appreciate all you do.
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In this issue, I also have the distinct pleasure of doing something I’ve always loved—introducing people to new music. We at the magazine first caught wind of Milton’s Jimmie Allen when he appeared on the “Today” show to perform his hit single “Best Shot,” and it was revealed that, like most “overnight sensations,” he had already been toiling away at becoming a success for nearly a decade.
If you’re a country music fan, there’s a pretty good chance you know the song and love it. If not, expect to hear it soon. The song’s message of how others inspire us to be our best selves is universal in its appeal and has the potential to see success beyond country music.
Allen is also an excellent ambassador for the First State. His grit and determination paired with his small-town values, charm and modesty shine a spotlight on the qualities that make Delawareans special—and his visible pride in his home state, as evidenced by his fondness for Delaware-themed swag, doesn’t hurt either.
In this month’s cover story, writer Jordan Howell takes us behind the scenes of Allen’s Sussex County roots, his rise to fame and his ongoing connection to this state. We’re happy to be here with him at this point in his ride, and hope the trip is long and fruitful.
—Scott Pruden