From May 6 to May 12, we celebrate National Nurses Week—a time to honor the compassion, expertise, and strength of the nurses who care for us in every setting imaginable. Whether on hospital floors, in schools, senior living communities, or local clinics, nurses are often the first to arrive and the last to leave. They are listeners, advocates, healers, and educators. And above all, they are essential.
At Siena, this week is a chance to pause and say thank you; to the nurses making an impact today, and to the students and alumni who are ready to carry that legacy forward.
Emma Paul ’25, R.N., puts it best:
“Siena allowed me to learn not only the curriculum required to become a nurse but also the patience, confidence, and critical thinking crucial to be a nurse. The Franciscan core values tied to the program caused me to bring optimism, diversity, respect, and leadership to my personal nursing practice. The best nurses are Saints!”
These values show up in real and powerful ways across our community. Take Christyn Moore ’24, now a registered nurse working on a cardiac/renal unit. She credits her Siena experience for giving her not just clinical knowledge, but the ability to care for others and herself:
“At Siena, the combination of small class sizes and passionate, supportive professors has allowed me to truly thrive in the nursing program. The focus on caring science has not only taught me how to provide exceptional care for my patients, but also how to care for myself. The dual degree opportunity has connected me to countless invaluable resources, hands-on clinical experiences, and professional relationships, all of which guided me toward a successful future as a nurse.”
This week is about nurses like Emma and Christyn. It’s also about the professors who mentor future nurses with care and dedication. It's about the students gaining experience at hospitals like Albany Med, St. Peter’s, and Ellis, learning to lead in moments of uncertainty and hope.
Above all, Nurses Week is about recognition:
For the hours that stretch long past the end of a shift.
For the calm you bring in moments of chaos.
For the way you advocate, support, and show up, day in and day out.
To all the nurses in our community and beyond: thank you. What you do makes a difference, and it never goes unnoticed.
To those considering a path in nursing: the world needs more people like you. The best nurses are saints—offering compassion, strength, and care when it’s needed most.
For more about nursing at Siena, visit siena.edu/programs/nursing.
