Hello everyone, I'm Tracy Moffat, System Chief Nursing Officer and System Vice President of
Quality at Ochsner Health. I'm proud to lead and work beside more than 7,000 talented and
committed nursing team members across our entire organization. As many of you know
the World Health Organization named 2020 the year of the nurse and midwife, as a year to educate
create awareness, and bring light to the incredible work in our practice
around the world. Little did we know, at the start of this year, what our nurses would be called to do.
In the face of a pandemic, a crisis we have never experienced before
I watched as so many heroes in all forms, but especially our nurses, flew into action.
We have risen to the occasion and gone far beyond anyone's expectations perhaps including our own
2020 has truly become nursing's finest hour right here in Louisiana and all around the world.
Over the course of this year I have been so inspired by what various teams have accomplished
one of my favorite quotes from Brené Browns' 'Daring Greatly' book was one that inspired
her title of the book and comes from former US President Teddy Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt says, "It is not the critic who counts nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better, the credit belongs to the man who is
actually in the arena. Whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly. Who errs
who comes up short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming but
who does actually strive to do the deed who knows great enthusiasms the great devotions
who spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best knows in the end the triumph
of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
Listen, nobody signed up for what 2020 brought us this year. This was a messy hard year.
But you showed up anyway. You were actually in the arena and you fought valiantly and you won.
The isolation. The uncertainty of the virus. The fear of the unknown. My anxiety of the uncertainty
of the near future. The unknown. When will it end? When will it get better? We're in a pandemic.
I remember training and planning to prepare for a pandemic but never in my entire career did I think
that we would have to experience one. The social distancing -- not being able to hug my
patients and their family, not being able to hug my mom and dad.
It was just kinda hard to stay positive for them when you're dealing with your own uncertainties and difficulties.
In April of this year, I was diagnosed with being COVID positive.
Eventually, we will get through this.
The support through the community, our co-workers who's worked here and other departments.
Definitely, the amazing team that I get to work with each day helps us become closer together.
I am again thankful and grateful to be part of an amazing team.
The joy that we found through it all was just seeing people you know overcome their fears
and work together. Knowing all of this brings me joy that I am here today that I'm able to push on
and push through, knowing that I can make the difference in a patient's life.
Resilience. Keep going. Keep going.
I also find joy knowing that they trust us with their health, with their care,
with their families, with their babies. I mean, that really says a lot
and makes me feel good about knowing that I'm in the right profession and doing what I was meant to do.
Many of you have said that your teams, both at work and at home, have been the reason you pulled
through this year and kept showing up every day. You all have and continue to make great
sacrifices to lead and serve. Your time has come and if you're still wondering about your impact
just know that the difference you're making is indispensable. Your Chief Nursing Officers,
Executive teams, and I are incredibly proud of each of you and the caliber of nursing we have here at Ochsner.
Thank you for every moment this year. For every time you pulled yourself together and went
back to it, for every time you gave yourself, or others, the permission that they needed to rest
and come back stronger and know that in my mind, every year is the year of the nurse and midwife.
We simply could not do it all without each of you.