As nurses, you dedicate yourselves to ensuring optimal patient care, often placing the needs of others above your own. These pressures have only intensified over the past few years, making burnout and emotional fatigue all too common in the profession. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is sending an important message: caring for yourself is essential to provide the highest level of care to your patients

ANA, together with the American Nurses Foundation and the American Nurses Credentialing Center, launched two resources to address this issue. The Well-Being Excellence™ program and the Nurse Well-Being: Building Peer and Leadership Support - Training are new initiatives developed by ANA to foster resilience, alleviate stress, and empower caregivers to thrive---both on the job and in their personal lives.

Why This Matters Now

It's no secret that nurse burnout has reached alarming levels, affecting not only you but the quality of care you provide for your patients. Exhaustion, emotional strain, and even feelings of helplessness can make it hard to give your best. Acknowledging and addressing this reality is not a sign of weakness, it's the first step toward healing.

As nurses, you are required to be resilient, but you can't do that without support systems. That's where ANA's latest initiatives step in. These programs encourage nurses to prioritize their own health, enabling them to bring their best selves to the bedside. They serve as a powerful reminder of how interconnected self-care and patient care truly are. Taking a moment to care for yourself allows you to bring clarity, compassion, and strength to the care you give others.

What Are the New Resources?

1. Nurse Well-Being: Building Peer and Leadership Support - Training
   Free and tailored for individual nurses, this training offers strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and connect with peers. It's free to access and emphasizes practical steps you can take to enhance your well-being right away. (Want to explore facility-wide implementation? Get the Nurse Well-Being Implementation Guide)

2. Well-Being Excellence™ Program
   This program is designed for healthcare facilities to build systems that prioritize staff well-being. How do you measure the success of your well-being programs? Well-Being Excellence™ offers a solution by providing evidence-based standards to evaluate and enhance your organization's well-being efforts. It focuses on three critical aspects:

   • Supporting leaders in fostering a culture of care for their teams, strengthening recruitment and retention efforts

   • Providing tangible resources to address burnout and emotional stress.

   • Offering certification to facilities that continually prioritize the mental health of their staff.

By fostering environments where nurse well-being is actively supported, this program aims to improve not only job satisfaction but also patient outcomes.

What Can You Do?

While these programs are a step forward, their impact depends on widespread adoption and use. Here's how you can make a difference:

1. Advocate for Change: Talk to leadership at your workplace about adopting the Well-Being Excellence™ program. Encourage them to commit to a culture where your well-being isn't just encouraged but actively supported.

2. Use the Tools: Explore the Mental Health and Well-Being training resources. Even small changes in how you manage stress or prioritize your needs can have a ripple effect on your health and work.

3. Support Each Other: Share these resources with your peers and remind one another that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but of strength.

The Bigger Picture

Programs like these remind us of the vital role that nurse well-being plays in the healthcare system. When you are at our best, patients receive more attentive and compassionate care, and healthcare environments become safer and more supportive for everyone.

Let's create a future where no nurse has to choose between their health and their dedication to their patients. It starts with each of us---making the time, taking the steps, and asking for the resources we need to thrive.

Remember: You are not alone in this journey. Together, we can build a culture of care, for ourselves and the people who depend on us every day.

Once again, I find myself reflecting during a flight, as I write this message to you. I am returning from a productive and inspiring ANA Leadership Council annual meeting - a convening of ANA constituent and state nursing associations to address national issues and exchange ideas that will shape the 2025 Membership Assembly agenda.

A key highlight of the meeting was an update on the newly revised 2025 Nursing Code of Ethics, which will be released this month. Revised every ten years, the Code ensures its language and scope remain relevant to the ever-evolving nursing landscape. The ANA assembled an expert panel to meticulously craft the updated Code, incorporating feedback from nurses across the country through an extensive review process. The final version, a culmination of this collective effort, will be released later this month.

During our discussions, the Leadership Council examined the revised Code within the context of today's tumultuous political climate. We reflected on how its language could and should serve as our guiding compass - a north star for navigating complex and often polarizing issues. This perspective is particularly meaningful as we prepare for Arizona's 2025 legislative session. Inevitably, we will face calls to support legislation that may divide opinions among our members. Yet, our discussions underscored the importance of viewing the Code of Ethics as the foundational guide for our actions, particularly in such challenging contexts.

Throughout AzNA's history, we have been called upon to weigh in on contentious topics. Our members often urge us to take a stand, valuing our voice in matters of public significance. But how do we determine the best course of action when there are no clear answers, or when our membership holds divergent views? In each instance, the Board of Directors has consistently turned to the Code of Ethics for clarity and direction. It has been our unwavering foundation, a doctrine that unites us and keeps our focus on what matters most - serving the nurses and communities that depend on us.

I believe every nurse reading this message can recall learning about the Code of Ethics during their educational journey---perhaps multiple times---and how it was instilled as a non-negotiable commitment to our profession, our colleagues, and our patients. This promise we made as we entered the field continues to guide us throughout our careers. I encourage you to review the revised Code of Ethics and integrate it into your practice, no matter your setting or role. Let it be the steadfast anchor in your decision-making and a source of unity as we navigate the complexities of modern healthcare together.

Once released, you will be able to find the ANA Nursing Code of Ethics on the ANA Website.

Dates have been set for AzNA's 2025 events - save these dates on your calendar!

• February 27th - 2025 RN Advocacy Day. Registration Now Open!

• July 26th - 37th Annual Southwestern Regional Nurse Practitioner Symposium in Mesa, AZ

• September 12-13 - AzNA's 2025 Convention in Mesa, AZ

Keep an eye on our events calendar at www.aznurse.org/events for updated information to come.

When I was a young girl, just eight years old, I told my mother," I am going to be a nurse and always take care of you." This came true; her last years were spent with Alzheimer's disease, and I was able to care for her. I have been so fortunate to have a career in which I love waking up and caring for others daily. I am celebrating 33 years of working full-time and supporting my community.

The year 2020 was when many of our lives unfortunately changed. I had a colleague who passed away from COVID and the Arizona Nursing Honor Guard presented the Nightingale Tribute at his funeral. I was not able to attend, but I had never heard of this organization so I immediately researched it online and watched my first Florence Nightingale Tribute. My eyes filled with tears, and I was so proud to know fellow nurses had this beautiful choice to have this organization come to their celebration of life, funeral, and final journey. I knew I needed to give a donation and become a member. I reached out and a few years passed when one day, I was working and the subject arose with colleagues about the Arizona Nursing Honor Guard. At that moment I knew I was ready, so I applied and have been a member for 17 months.

I am so proud to know I will be supporting my community for the rest of my career and throughout retirement. Touching so many lives and their families; opens your heart, allows you to be present, and gives you a new perspective on the nursing profession. To be blessed with their stories I am truly enriched. Honoring these fallen nurses, and embracing and comforting their families is pure JOY and an honor. I will never forget my first Tribute and the feeling that came over me. As tears ran down my face, a sense of "holiness" caught me off guard while wearing the beautiful Nursing Honor Guard uniform thinking of Florence Nightingale, nursing history, and that beautiful flame glowing from the lamp. I knew this is now my calling. I am so grateful for this organization and so proud to say I am an active member of the Arizona Nursing Guard.

The Arizona Nurse Honor Guard has been operating since October 2017 and has performed 276 tributes. We have expanded our mission to not only honoring nurses at their passing but we honor our working nurse community during Nurses Week, nurses enrolled in hospice, and nurses reaching retirement with 50 years of service to the nursing profession. If you would like to volunteer and be a part of this organization or are in need of the honor guard's services, contact us by:

Email: nursehonorguard.maricopa@gmail.com or call us at 480-741-5015 for more information.

This summer, the ASU Edson College of Nursing & Health Innovation sent a group of students to Peru on a service-learning trip. Our trip provided time for cultural enrichment as well as an opportunity to address some critical health disparities. We built stoves in Quechua homes to decrease indoor air pollution and relieve respiratory issues. This experience demonstrated how education, service, global health awareness, and nursing excellence combine to bring about change and community empowerment.

This practical way of learning builds cultural responsiveness and empathy and allows students to appreciate other social determinants of health (a major aspect of nursing education) in a more meaningful manner than what can be accomplished in a traditional classroom setting.

The students also visited Machu Picchu: a journey to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and the Inca Empire's iconic archaeological site. Their visit to the ancient ruins helped the students increase cultural sensitivity regarding indigenous health practices and cultural perceptions surrounding well-being. Therefore, a trip to Machu Picchu is an eye-opener towards cultural immersion in parallel to healthcare education that leads to the molding of a sympathetic and holistic nursing professional.

Professionally, the trip provided opportunities for clinical observation and public health engagement. Students were able to participate in health clinics, educational studies on transcultural health and illness, and community outreach aimed at sustainable health practices. Each of the students attended class daily, taught by ASU Nursing professors, and studied common healthcare beliefs and practices by different global cultures. Also, in collaboration with local healthcare providers and community leaders, students obtained practical skills related to health promotion and disease prevention, essential for nursing practice within diverse and underserved communities.

In conclusion, taking nursing students to Peru and engaging in community service by building stoves in Quechua homes and working in rural health clinics is an educationally transformative experience. It provides students with cultural responsiveness, practical nursing skills, and a view of the globe that will guide them to better understand future nursing challenges. By blending classroom learning with hands-on community engagement, this journey not only enhanced their education, but gave them the knowledge to become advocates for sustainable healthcare solutions.

The tips in this article are designed so you can be your own best witness in the event you become
the subject of a licensing board complaint (complaint) or civil lawsuit (lawsuit). Neither a complaint nor a lawsuit means the nurse did anything wrong. However, poor documentation in a chart can be interpreted as not doing enough. Additionally, grammatical and spelling errors can influence a jury’s impression of nursing competence. Imagine chart entries as 5-foot-tall exhibits displayed in front of a jury. Assume that every word in the record will be scrutinized in agonizing detail during the investigation or a deposition.

Exception Danger!
Charting by exception means nurses only charting things that deviate from the anticipated or
expected norms. This method of charting can hinder the ability to capture significant details of a patient assessment even for the most conscientious nurse. For example, patient assessments marked as “WDL” (within defined limits) when, in fact, the patient had some variation to their assessment based on their admitting diagnoses or underlying conditions. For example, an abdominal assessment WDL but the patient has a PEG tube, or when a neurologic exam is noted to be WDL when the patient has significant, advanced dementia.

Late Entries
“Late entries” (entered hours or days after the actual encounter), are like beacons attracting
adversarial onlookers from miles around to suggest these entries must have been created to cover something up. Late entries, while uncommon, are sometimes necessary to clarify information, to correct an error, or to add information that was not previously available. If a late entry is needed, ensure you follow your organization’s policy on late charting. We recommend clearly identifying the note as a “late entry” with the current date and time.

Copy/Paste
Use caution about the utilization of copy/paste functionality in the electronic medical record. This
practice can be problematic in a complaint or lawsuit if the copy/pasted notes contain inaccurate,
outdated, and conflicting information. Follow your organization’s policy regarding utilization of the copy/paste function. And if you do copy/paste information from previous assessments, visits, or encounters, ensure you review and edit the information to accurately reflect the patient’s current status.

Documenting Defensively
To document defensively:
● Chart by exception but clearly document refusals in care or treatment in detail. The
documentation should include the care attempted, education about why the care is
needed, the risks associated with the refusal, and the number of attempts made.
● Avoid generic references such as “discussed with family.” Instead, document the name of
the person educated or advised and include a phrase similar to “and all questions were
answered.” If the discussion was conducted over the phone, include all of the above plus
the phone number, date, and time of the call.

Charting the Good Stuff!

The unfortunate reality is that sometimes there are bad outcomes, and an individual occurrence
can be used to discredit and negate the good care which was provided. Consider a resident with dementia who has been living in a nursing home for years but experienced one fall resulting in a hip fracture, then pneumonia, and death. If the family retains an attorney, the lawsuit may allege “years” of mistreatment and neglect. How can we oppose these attempts to characterize years of excellent care through the lens of one unfortunate accident? By charting the good stuff.

Have family members brought in treats or flowers for the staff? Given cards thanking staff for the
good care provided? Those good events virtually never make it into the chart, and they should. A
common allegation in a lawsuit is that the care was not “personalized.” During the deposition of a family member who alleges they were upset about all of the care their loved one received, highlighting these good notes is an extremely helpful defense tool. Claims are then easily rebutted when the medical record includes statements about positive interactions with staff and details of objective findings demonstrating outcomes of therapeutic interventions.

A complaint or a lawsuit often occurs years after you have taken care of a patient. Frequently the nurse has no specific recollection of the patient, so the medical record is the most persuasive witness. Document necessary details, avoid late charting, exercise caution if using copy/paste functionality, and proofread your entries. And do not forget to chart the good stuff!

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common challenge in long-term care, especially for obese female patients. Obesity puts additional pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, worsening UI. Here are highlights of effective, evidence-based strategies to manage UI, improve comfort, skin health, and care quality.

Connecting Obesity and Urinary Incontinence

Obesity plays a major role in urinary incontinence. Nearly 42% of U.S. adults are obese (CDC, 2022), and many patients in long-term care are affected. Excess weight increases pressure on the pelvic floor, leading to weakened muscles and a higher risk of incontinence (Chen et al., 2023).

For nurses, this means obese patients may require more assistance with daily activities like toileting and hygiene. Even with extra care, UI can lead to complications such as skin irritation, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) (Felix et al., 2023). These issues can create discomfort, complicate care, and lead to longer facility stays (Hales et al., 2022). Obesity worsens UI, and the resulting complications make care even more challenging.

Moisture-Associated Skin Damage and IAD

A significant concern when managing UI is moisture-associated skin damage (MASD), especially in obese patients. IAD, the most common form of MASD, occurs when prolonged exposure to urine irritates the skin, causing redness and breakdown (Gray et al., 2021). This is particularly troublesome for immobile patients who cannot reposition themselves easily.

Regular skin assessments, such as using the Braden Skin Assessment, are essential for spotting early signs of IAD such as redness (Domingues et al., 2022). Early action prevents more severe skin damage, which can be costly and prolong a patient's stay (Kayser et al., 2021). Managing incontinence promptly---cleaning and drying patients quickly---helps minimize skin damage. However, even with absorbent pads and underpads, moisture buildup can still occur, making skin protection difficult.

External Urinary Catheters: A Better Option

While absorbent products are common, they don't always keep the skin dry. An effective solution is using external urinary catheters, such as the PureWick system. These devices suction urine away from the body, keeping the skin dry and reducing the risk of IAD and UTIs (Warren et al., 2021).

Why use an external catheter? Here's why:

• Comfort and ease of use: External catheters are comfortable, easy to apply and to remove (McRae & Kennelly, 2023).

• Lower infection risk: They reduce the risk of catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTI) (Rearigh et al., 2020).

• Cost-effective: External urinary catheters can save up to $13,000 per patient by reducing linen changes and the treatment of skin damage (Kayser et al., 2021).

Not all patients are suitable for external catheters---those with urinary retention or recent surgery might not be candidates---but they can be a great solution for many long-term care patients (Bagley & Severud, 2021).

Practical Tips

As a nurse, you're key to managing incontinence and preventing complications, especially in obese patients. Tips to improve care:

• Regular skin checks: Use the Braden Skin Assessment to spot early signs of IAD such as redness. Catching these signs early helps prevent more severe damage (Domingues et al., 2022).

• Keep patients clean and dry: Promptly clean and dry patients after incontinence episodes to prevent moisture buildup. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect the skin.

• Consider external urinary catheters: For patients who are good candidates, external catheters like PureWick can reduce skin damage, lower infection risks, and improve comfort (McRae & Kennelly, 2023).

• Educate patients and families: Teach patients and families about the risks of untreated incontinence and the benefits of external catheters. Informed families are more likely to support and participate in care.

Conclusion

Urinary incontinence is a common challenge in long-term care, especially for obese female patients. MASD, IAD, and UTIs are major concerns that can be prevented with prompt care and the use of external urinary catheters like the PureWick system.

By using simple, evidence-based practices like regular skin checks, timely hygiene, and considering alternatives like external catheters, you can improve patient comfort and quality of life. These actions benefit patients and reduce your workload, making care more efficient.

In early 2023, the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA) established the Climate Change and Health Workgroup to assist nurses in becoming more informed and active about the urgent impact of climate change on our health. Workgroup members have published articles on extreme heat, healthcare decarbonization, and climate change communication techniques to educate nurses on issues linking the environment and health. David Hrabe, PhD, RN, NC-BC, the author of this article, joined the Workgroup early in our first year and brought his four decades of experience as a nurse, consultant, and educator to contribute ideas, information, and advocacy solutions. Thank you, Dave, for bringing your knowledge and passion for the environment to our work and introducing Arizona nurses to Natural Organic Reduction, an ecological alternative to burial and cremation.

The state of Arizona has recently legalized a new method for the disposition of human remains called Natural Organic Reduction (NOR). While there are many important considerations and beliefs regarding the remains of a human body, one approach for consideration might be NOR. This article briefly explains the NOR process, Arizona statute changes, and nursing practice implications.

Natural Organic Reduction

Natural Organic Reduction (NOR), also known as 'soil transformation', 'recomposting', 'recomposition', 'terramation' or 'human composting', is an ecological alternative to burial or cremation (Recompose, 2023a). NOR applies the process of composting to the disposition of human remains. The body is sealed in a pod or container along with carbon-rich materials such as wood chips, straw, or flowers. In addition to the body's natural bacteria, a combination of oxygen, heat, and rotation facilitates decomposition (Vallie, 2023). After about eight to twelve weeks, the process results in about one cubic yard of soil weighing up to 1000 pounds. All or part of the soil can be returned to the family or donated to various conservation areas (Recompose, 2023b, c).

According to Vallie (2023), NOR offers several ecological benefits. Composted materials provide beneficial nutrients to plants and trees while also improving soil's ability to retain water. This process does not use toxic embalming fluids common with burial and avoids the release of carbon dioxide and mercury that occurs with cremation. Additionally, NOR uses 87% less energy than cremation and involves no casket or concrete grave liner as with burial (Recompose, 2023d).

The cost of NOR compares favorably to burial or cremation. The National Funeral Directors Association (2024) reported that the 2024 median cost of a funeral and burial in the U.S. was $8,300 and $6,820 for cremation. Two companies that offer NOR to clients in Arizona advertise their cost as $7,000 (Recompose, 2024a) and $5,450 (D. Hrabe, personal communication, July 27, 2024).

Arizona Law and Access to Services

Legislation to allow for NOR in Arizona was introduced via HB 2081 in January 2024 and signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs on March 29, 2024 (FastDemocracy, 2024). Strong bipartisan support for the measure resulted in rapid approval. The legislation altered A.R.S. § 32-1302 to broaden the definition of cremation "to mean the process that reduces human remains to bone fragments or soil by combustion, evaporation or natural organic reduction" (Arizona House of Representatives, 2024).

Arizona joined 11 other states that have approved NOR: California, Colorado, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington (Recompose, 2024b). Even though NOR is now legal in Arizona, access to these services is limited. Currently, there is not a NOR facility located in Arizona. Therefore, arrangements for body transport to the provider's location are needed. Recompose and Earth, two major providers offering services in Arizona, have composting facilities in Washington and Nevada.

Nursing Implications

Since Natural Organic Reduction is a relatively new method of body disposition, many people do not know about it. Simply knowing that NOR is available in Arizona is a start. Next, nurses can talk with colleagues to consider death-adjacent policies or processes in their facility that would be affected by NOR. Some conditions exclude bodies from NOR, while other circumstances require additional planning and coordination (Recompose 2024c):

• Embalmed bodies cannot be composted. Because bodies donated for research or study are usually embalmed, additional arrangements to avoid embalming would need to be made.

• Certain conditions such as Ebola, prion diseases (e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease), or active tuberculosis exclude bodies from composting.

• Bodies with implanted radiation seeds can be composted if the seeds have been removed for 30 days.

• Bodies with donated organs can be composted, but additional coordination would be needed.

Preparing yourself for death care conversations with patients and families is essential. Nurses are in an excellent position to understand patient preferences and whether introducing this intimate topic would be beneficial. Patients with prepaid funeral plans using other disposition methods, for example, have already decided and likely would not want to change their plans. Some religions or cultures may regard NOR negatively and guide patients' or families' decisions to more standard practices.

On a personal note, caring for our environment has always been important to me. I was immensely relieved to learn about NOR as an ecological alternative to burial and cremation. The response has been overwhelmingly positive as I have shared information about NOR with friends and family. Hopefully, my thoughts here have stimulated some new thinking about how humans can better participate in the ultimate journey back to the earth.

Recommended Resources

In addition to the cited references, you can learn more about NOR by visiting these websites:

• *Carbon-neutral funerals. Soil Transformation, Human Composting | Earth Funeral. (n.d.). https://earthfuneral.com/
• CBS Sunday Morning. (2023). Human Composting: The Rising Internet in Natural Burial. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDYcdrjVn2k
• *Recompose. (2024, October 31). https://recompose.life/
• Spade, K. (2016). Let's Talk About Human Composting. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRsopS7yTG8
• *These are the two known companies that currently provide NOR services in Arizona. Citing their websites is for information only. It is not an endorsement of the companies or their services.

This past November, the country experienced a highly anticipated and historical election. Arizona, as a Sun Belt Battleground state, was among seven other "swing states", whose votes trickled in throughout the evening and the days to follow. More than 4.37 million ballots were cast, resulting in several close and competitive state and local races.

Every election, the AZNA PAC endorses candidates for AZ Senate and House of Representatives. In this past election, 89% of the candidates that the PAC Board endorsed were elected. Only 7% of endorsed candidates did not win their races. For a complete list of endorsed candidates and election results, go to https://www.aznurse.org/page/PACendorsement.

The implications are great because endorsing candidates is the first step in the process of creating a relationship with your legislator. As nurses, we can agree that strong positive relationships create opportunities. In the legislature this means getting bills passed that align with and support the AzNA public policy agenda. Nurses across the state can celebrate as once again, there are four nurses in the legislature! Arizona re-elected to the House of Representatives - Selina Bliss, RN LD-1 and Eva Burch, RN LD-9, and to the Senate - Janae Shamp, RN LD-29 and Julie Willoughby, RN LD-13.

The AzNA PAC and Public Policy Committee anticipate a busy legislative session, with many bills returning that were not passed last session.This is your chance to get engaged, weigh in, and work with your district legislators. Follow the bills and AzNA's positions on The Nurse's List at https://www.aznurse.org/page/PPNursesList. Weigh in on each bill by completing a Request to Speak comment at https://apps.azleg.gov/. Know your legislative district (https://www.azcleanelections.gov) and your legislator. Talk to your legislator about the issues (remember, you are the healthcare expert!). You can find additional resources on the AzNA Advocacy webpage (https://www.aznurse.org/page/PP03).

I hope you will join me Feb 27, 2025, at RN Advocacy Day, where you can apply all of your advocacy skills and build on your relationship with your AZ legislator! It will be educational, productive, and FUN!

As I leave my role as PAC Chair, I am optimistic and excited for the new PAC leadership team. Please help us welcome Robin Schaeffer, Chair; Denice Gibson, Vice Chair/Treasurer; Jason Bradley, Secretary; Mary Walters, Fundraising). It's going to be a great year!

Carol Stevens, PhD, RN

AzNA PAC

The first time I attended a nurse’s funeral and saw a Nurse Honor Guard ceremony, I was moved to tears.

Honor guard nurses were dressed in white uniforms with vintage white caps and blue capes. They performed a memorial service to honor the nurse who had died. The Nightingale pledge was narrated. There was a final call to duty, a candle lit, and a white rose placed. It was simple. It was meaningful. It was compelling.

The Nurse Honor Guard is a volunteer organization that pays a ceremonial tribute to fallen nurses. Members of the Nurse Honor Guard attend a funeral or celebration of life and conduct a brief service that is personalized to the nurse who either passed away or is nearing the end of their life in hospice.

Nursing is a profession steeped in poignant traditions. The Honor Guard uses these traditions as symbols to honor and recognize nurse colleagues by remembering the lives and legacies of those who served on the front lines of healthcare. This solemn tradition honors the memory of our fallen colleagues and recognizes the selfless commitment they demonstrated throughout their careers.

Nurse Honor Guard clad in their distinctive white uniforms demonstrates tradition and respect to both the profession and to their nursing colleague. The Nightingale Tribute and white rose symbolize the nurse’s dedication to the profession. Embedded with a profound sense of reverence, the “final roll call” officially releases the nurse from their nursing duties. The Nightingale lamp, a symbol of hope and comfort, is then extinguished and presented to the family much like a folded flag is given to military families. This meaningful gesture helps ease the overwhelming feeling of loss for grieving families.

As these compassionate nurse volunteers come together to honor their fallen colleagues, they weave a tapestry of remembrance, unity, and traditions which unites the sister and brotherhood of nurses nationwide. Nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, and a service profession. In the dynamic realm of healthcare, nurses play a vital role in providing care and comfort to those in need. Not only is it appropriate that we honor our nursing colleagues during their career, but also at the end of their life’s journey.

At its core, the Nurse Honor Guard embodies the values that define nursing: compassion, reverence, and unity. The Nurse Honor Guard is more than a ceremony; it is a tribute to the history, traditions, and spirit of nursing. The Honor Guard remains a timeless reminder that the nurses’ legacy is eternally woven into the fabric of healthcare; a legacy that deserves to be celebrated, honored, and remembered.

As a professional nurse, I believe the Honor Guard is a symbolic representation of the devotion nurses have for their patients. Nurses honoring nurses: The “Final Call of Duty” ceremony is an opportunity to salute our fellow nurses in a respectful way. The Arizona Nurse Honor Guard has been operating since October 2017 and has preformed 276 tributes. We have expanded our mission to not only honoring nurses at their passing but we honor our working nurse community during Nurses Week, nurses enrolled in hospice and nurses reaching retirement with 50 years of service to the nursing profession.

If you would like to volunteer and be a part of this organization or are in need of the honor guard’s services, contact us by: Email:nursehonorguard.maricopa@gmail.com or call us at 480-741-5015 for more information.

Happy Anniversary to our dedicated AzNA members celebrating these special milestones for this past quarter: September - November 2024.

Nikki O'Daniels

The Arizona Nurse (ISSN 0004-1599) is the official publication of the Arizona Foundation for the Future of Nursing (AzFFN), peer reviewed and indexed in Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied
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