North Wales honors nurses
Mayor recalls aid during medical issues
They play a key role in helping us get well, and may not always get the credit they deserve.
Borough officials gave a special shout out to care providers, honoring National Nurses Week with a formal proclamation.
“I had significant medical issues last year, and nurses were very much at the forefront of taking care of me,” said borough Mayor Neil McDevitt.
To start Tuesday night’s council meeting, McDevitt read a formal proclamation stating that nurses are “the backbone of the healthcare system,” who provide essential care, compassion and expertise in hospitals, clinics, schools and homes across the state. Nurses also act as advocates, innovators and leaders, and the national theme of “The Power of Nurses” is meant to recognize their impact and contributions to health care both locally and nationwide.
“Nurses in North Wales Borough and throughout the Commonwealth have consistently exhibited immense courage and dedication, continuing to rise to challenges, improving patient outcomes, and serving with resilience and grace,” read the proclamation.
After summarizing the text, McDevitt then reflected on his own recent encounters with nurses.
“How many times do we not realize we need something, until we actually need it? I never really thought about nurses in that way, until I actually needed one,” he said.
“One of the most profound ways that they help you, beyond the obvious, is they advocate for you,” McDevitt said.
In his case, McDevitt told council, he had issues with his level of medication during recovery, and instead of telling him to tolerate or accept pain levels, his nurse advocated for an increase in medication, based on that nurse’s own experience with the same medication: “It just made me feel human, in that moment. Nurses are the ones that make that possible.”
“I ask residents this week to recognize the power of nurses in their daily lives: from their primary care provider, to people who are specialists, working in emergency rooms or regular facilities,” he said.
“If folks know of nurses in their neighborhoods, please get in touch with me: I would love to meet with them and give them copies (of the proclamation) — thanks to all of the nurses in our community.”
That proclamation was accompanied by a special shout-out, from the mayor to nurse Eric Behr, a Lansdale native who works with Mercy Home Care and helped care for McDevitt during his recovery, part of a 35-year nursing career that included a stint at Abington Hospital as well as travel nursing.
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