I Need a Nurse!

This powerful presentation emphasizes the profound responsibility and trust that comes with entering the nursing profession.

Drawing from personal experience as both a healthcare professional and family member, the speaker shares a deeply moving story about her mother's final moments, where a compassionate ICU nurse became a lifeline during an impossible situation. The speech begins by acknowledging nursing's distinction as one of the most trusted professions, transitioning into the ethical responsibilities that come with this honor.

Through the personal narrative of the speaker's mother's surgery and unexpected complications, the presentation illustrates how nurses serve as advocates, communicators, and sources of comfort in patients' and families' most vulnerable moments. The core message resonates throughout: When someone says, I need a nurse, "that someone will be YOU!" This speech effectively bridges gap between academic preparation and real-world practice, reminding new nurses that their seemingly small actions - making a phone call, showing compassion, using professional expertise to guide difficult decisions - create lasting impacts that transcend names and faces, leaving only memories of kindness and competence.

Every Nurse is a Leader

This inspirational presentation challenges new nurses to view graduation not as an ending but as a pivotal beginning - a launching point for lasting contributions to nursing and healthcare. The presentation reframes the often-overlooked academic skills developed during nursing school as essential "scholarship muscles" that will define each nurse's professional voice and leadership impact. The speech introduces three foundational concepts: excellence, communication, and scholarship.

Through practical examples, the speaker demonstrates how seemingly mundane academic tasks - APA formatting, discussion boards, group projects, and presentation - develop crucial professional communication skills. The presentation's centra message, "the roots of scholarship are leadership," empowers new nurses to recognize their potential as practitioners and innovators. Real-world examples illustrate how nurses can exercise their "scholarship muscles" by sharing discoveries about pain management, communication strategies, and improved procedures with colleagues.

The speech culminates with the powerful concepts that Nurses write "because they have something they must say" and research (investigate) "because I have something they MUST find out!" positioning every nurse as a potential contributor to the profession's knowledge base.