Voices Without Volume:: Was the Voice of Nursing Missing From the COVID-19 Pandemic?

When our nation was challenged by a global pandemic in 2020, nursing stepped forward to carry out what needed to be done—to take care of the nation’s people. As the pandemic evolved and became the largest single public health concern of our modern times, there seemed to be a void of the profession of nursing being involved in the strategy to address the pandemic. Although there were many nurse leaders across our nation speaking for their organizations and working tirelessly to ensure they delivered the care necessary, it seemed to this author that the voice of nursing was missing at the highest levels of our state and government agencies. As nurses, we own our profession and have a responsibility to elevate the profession to a level of respect and trust that when the next public health crisis occurs, nursing is sitting at the table, ready to contribute to the strategy to save our patients’ lives.