Every year during National Nurses Week, we take a moment to pause and say what our patients and families say to us every day: thank you.
At The Connecticut Hospice, nursing isn’t just a department, a skillset, or a job title. It’s the backbone of every care plan, the voice on the other end of the phone at 2 A.M., and the steady presence in a room when a family doesn’t know what to do next. Hospice care is nurse-driven, nurse-supported, and nurse-provided, and we think that bears repeating.
Read on to learn more about the role of a hospice nurse, as well as the long-fought-for recognition of National Nurses Week in the United States.
Important Takeaways
- The Connecticut Hospice was founded by a nurse. Florence Wald, once Dean of the Yale School of Nursing, established America’s first hospice here in CT in 1974, and her legacy shapes how we care today.
- The role of a hospice nurse goes far beyond clinical tasks. Our nurses manage symptoms, educate families, coordinate care, and provide emotional presence during some of life’s most challenging moments.
- Nursing leadership runs deep at The Connecticut Hospice. From the bedside to the executive suite, registered nurses hold key roles across our organization, including CEO and Chief Operations & Compliance Officer.
What Is National Nurses Week?
National Nurses Week is an annual recognition celebration honoring the vital contributions nurses make to patients, families, and communities. Observed each year from May 6 through May 12, it opens on National Nurses Day and closes on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
Efforts to formally honor nurses in the U.S. began as early as the 1950s, with multiple proposals for a national day or week gaining traction over time. In 1982, May 6 was officially designated as National Nurses Day, and in 1990, the observance expanded to a full week. By 1993, May 6–12 was established as the permanent timeframe for National Nurses Week, cementing a lasting acknowledgment of the role nurses play across every setting of care.
Across hospitals, hospice organizations, and community settings, National Nurses Week offers a moment to acknowledge the clinical skill, compassion, and steady presence nurses bring to patients and families every day. The occasion carries particular resonance for The Connecticut Hospice: our organization was founded by a nurse, Florence Wald, and nursing remains at the center of everything we do.
What Do Hospice Nurses Do?
Hospice nurses provide skilled clinical care across every setting where patients receive it: at home, in assisted living communities, in skilled nursing facilities, and at our waterfront facility in Branford.
The role of a hospice nurse is varied. It includes managing pain and evolving symptoms, monitoring health status, educating and supporting family caregivers, and coordinating care across disciplines and settings. They also work as part of our interdisciplinary team alongside social workers, chaplains, physicians, and volunteers, helping ensure that every aspect of a patient’s comfort and dignity is attended to.
If you ask a hospice nurse to describe their job, they may very well undersell it. They might mention adjusting medications, monitoring symptoms, or teaching a family member how to help with wound care. But what they won’t always mention is how they go above and beyond: the hours they’ve spent sitting with frightened patients; the calls they’ve made to families who needed to hear a reassuring voice.
And they do it all with 24/7 availability. Our nurses are reachable every night for visits and support (because serious illness doesn’t follow business hours).
Rooted in Nursing From the Very Beginning
The Connecticut Hospice was founded in 1974 by Florence Wald, a nurse and former Dean of the Yale School of Nursing. Inspired by the work of Dr. Cicely Saunders, who herself trained as a nurse before becoming a physician, Wald brought the modern hospice model to the United States. The Connecticut Hospice became not only the first hospice in the country, but also the first in the world to care for patients in their own homes.
More than 50 years later, nursing remains at the heart of everything we do. Our senior leadership team includes registered nurses serving as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations & Compliance Officer, Director of Home Care, and Director of Inpatient Nursing & Admissions. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) provide palliative care and GUIDE Program care, as well as supporting inpatient medical services alongside our team of physicians. At The Connecticut Hospice, nursing isn’t just a department; it’s our foundation.
Thank You, From All of Us
To every nurse at The Connecticut Hospice: what you do is not easy, and it is not insignificant. You show up for patients and families at the hardest moments of their lives, bringing with you both clinical skill and genuine human care. You notice the things that numbers and charts don’t capture. You hold space for grief, fear, and love, often all in the same visit.
This week, and every week, we are grateful.
Thank you.
If you’re interested in joining a nursing team that leads from the bedside to the boardroom, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about careers at The Connecticut Hospice.
