CommonSpirit Health is recognizing its nursing staff for their dedication and compassion during Nurses Week, according to a May 6 announcement. The campaign features Ashley Cooper, a registered nurse at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, California, who has been highlighted for her commitment to patient care.
Cooper said her interest in caregiving began as a child when she helped her mother care for elderly church members. “We would bring meals, or clean their house, and they would occasionally have a caregiver in the home. That was my first introduction into caregiving, what that means and the importance of the role and significance of it,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience as both patient and nurse, Cooper described the importance of building trust with those receiving care. “I’ve also been a patient, so I have seen both sides. The significance of building that connection and having a person you trust in your caregiving role that’s an honorable role to have,” she said. “As a nurse, it’s not just a job, it’s an incredible honor that we’re there for people at their most vulnerable and be able to meet their needs and anticipate what they might be going through.”
Each year during Nurses Week, CommonSpirit features its own nursing staff in campaign materials. This year’s video includes Cooper singing the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” while scenes show nurses providing care across different settings within CommonSpirit facilities. “I felt honored that people at work knew I sing and they felt that I could be part of the project,” she said.
After viewing the finished video tribute alongside colleagues from various departments—including bedside hospital units and outpatient services—Cooper commented: “It was really special to see the different facets of nursing care represented, and how nurses actually do affect patients… It seemed like a really special tribute to all of those roles.” She added: “The nurses at CommonSpirit really do take pride in their roles. It’s why I love working here; and seeing that on the screen is really moving.”
Chi Memorial Hospital Georgia is part of CommonSpirit Health’s system with three hospitals among its network of 65 care sites; it has received recognition for quality initiatives focused on superior outcomes according to the official website.