McCook, Neb. – As Community Hospital celebrates Nurses Week 2026, April 27–May 1, we pause to recognize the extraordinary nursing professionals who serve our patients and communities with skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication. In this letter, Molly Herzberg, MSN, RN, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, reflects on the evolving role of nursing, the challenges faced across the profession, and the integrity, ownership, and excellence our nurses demonstrate every day. Her message is one of gratitude, respect, and continued commitment to supporting our nursing teams.

Dear Community Hospital Nursing Teams,
I want to take a moment to address you on the compassion, skill, dedication, and resilience you bring to our patients every single day. 

The role of nursing is changing as the scope of practice continues to expand, patient acuity is higher than it used to be, and the expectations placed on nursing continue to grow more each year. You are being asked to do more, have more than just nursing knowledge, adapt faster all while continuing to provide safe, high quality, patient centered care. 

Staffing challenges have added an additional layer of stress to an already demanding profession. Working short, covering extra shifts, caring for higher acuity patients, and higher patient volumes are exhausting not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well. 

Even in the midst of these challenges, you continue to lead with compassion for our patients and families. You show respect and dignity in moments of uncertainty, advocate when voices are unheard and provide comfort when it matters. 

You also demonstrate ownership every day. You step up when situations are difficult, take responsibility for outcomes, and critically think under pressure. Ownership is not about carrying the burden alone, it is about accountability, being effective, and being a good steward of resources, and having a commitment to excellence even when conditions are not ideal.

Your integrity is evident in the way you practice by doing what is right for the patient even when no one is watching. Integrity builds trust and is foundational to everything we do in healthcare. 

Through all of this, you continue to deliver excellence. Excellence is showing up, supporting one another, learning continually, striving for better, having open honest communication and managing up. The quality of care you provide is a testament to your professionalism and resilience. 

As your nursing leader, I am honored to have the responsibility of continuing to address staffing concerns, supporting safe practice, and advocating for you at every level. I am committed to listening and working collaboratively towards solutions that support both patients and nurses’ well-being.

Thank you for your dedication, perseverance, and commitment to our patients and the nursing profession. What you do matters and does not go unnoticed. 

With deep respect and appreciation, 
Molly Herzberg MSN, RN, VP Patient Care Services, CNO