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Nate Albright (he/they), PhD(c), MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Predoctoral Fellow and Infectious Diseases Nurse Practitioner
The Ohio State University College of Nursing
ANAC Director-at-Large
Like the moon—steadfast, luminous, and often unseen—nurses hold immense power that quietly shapes the world around us. The moon pulls oceans, guides human behavior, and marks time, even when we are unaware of its presence. Similarly, nurses are a constant force—balancing science and empathy, vigilance and grace—guiding patients, families, and entire systems through the ever-changing tides of healthcare.
The Power of Nurses is much like that of the moon—strong, influential, and often unseen. This Nurses Week we honor the quiet power of nurses—the way we illuminate, influence, and transform healthcare. Just like the moon, we rise to the occasion, we consistently shine even when those around us are not aware, and we pull the world forward in sickness and in health.
The collective strength of nursing is much like the incoming tide, unavoidable, predictable, and slowly, overtime changes the landscape of healthcare. For too long, nurses have forgotten the power that they have when they act in one accord. American society remains polarized, yet when nurses rise together, we become a gravitational force strong enough to shift not just the tides of physical health, but the course of our nation’s political sickness.
Nursing is political. We advocate on behalf of our patients in the same way that elected officials are expected to advocate for their constituents. Guided by the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity we protect the health and agency of our communities. The targeted dismantling of public health intuitions is a call for nurses, in alignment with their ethical standards, to step into the light, disrupt, and lead.
Visibility is a fundamental example of The Power of Nurses. With visibility comes the responsibility of veracity and speaking truth to power Many nurses shy away from the spotlight given their humility, after all, it is “part of the job.” However, nurses know first-hand the consequences of staying silent. We are taught how to escalate concerns, communicate hard-truths, and navigate opinions with evidence-based education.
So let us no longer dim our light to comfort the status quo. Just as the moon commands the tides without apology, nurses must lean into their influence without hesitation. Our presence at policy tables, in boardrooms, and in protest lines is not optional—it is essential. The Power of Nurses™ lies not only in bedside care, but in bold advocacy, unapologetic truth-telling, and collective uprising. We are not just caretakers of the sick—we are architects of a more just, more compassionate future. And that future begins when we stop waiting for permission to lead.
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