Ask a Nurse: Celebrating the Spirit of Care
Every year from May 6 to May 12, organizations across the country take time to honor the people who are truly at the heart of patient care: our nurses. National Nurses Week recognizes the vital role nurses play in the lives of patients, in community well-being, and in the overall health system.
At the Boca Grande Health Clinic, we know firsthand the extraordinary impact our nurses have on the lives of our patients. To celebrate this year, we asked our nursing team to describe each other in one word — a fun exercise that revealed just how much respect, affection, and camaraderie they share.
Here’s how they described one another:
- ❤️ Andrew Colburn, Radiologic Technologist – Altruistic
- ⚡ Lindsay Dalton, R.N., Nursing Coordinator – Spunky
- 🎯 Natalie Cole, R.N. & Director of Nursing – Perfectionist
- 🙈 Angie Begley, Medical Assistant – Shy
- 📁 Laquanda Dixon, Medical Assistant – Organized
- 🎈 Karen Trent, Medical Assistant – Uplifting
- 🧘 Jenny Maday, Registered Nurse – Calm
- 🎉 Dyan Wilson, Registered Nurse – Joyful
- 🏕️ Dana Pellant, Licensed Practical Nurse – Adventurous
Together, they form a team that is compassionate, skilled, and uniquely equipped to meet the needs of our community with grace and excellence.
“Every single patient who has been cared for by our nurses knows just how special they are,” says Mark Driscoll, Boca Grande Health Clinic CEO. “Their compassion, professionalism, and kindness are felt by everyone who walks through our doors. We’re proud to honor them this week — and grateful for them every day.”
Share Your Thanks
As Nurses Week draws to a close, we invite you to join us in thanking our incredible nursing team. Their dedication makes a difference in every smile, every appointment, and every act of care.
If a nurse has made a difference in your experience at the Clinic, we’d love to hear about it. You can share a few words of thanks or a favorite memory by submitting a tribute online at https://www.bghc.org/about/submit-a-tribute/. Every message reminds our team just how much they mean to the community they serve.
About National Nurses Week
The idea of honoring nurses formally began in 1953, when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed a National Nurse Day. Although it wasn’t proclaimed at the time, momentum grew. In 1974, the White House officially designated a full week of recognition, ending on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Nightingale’s tireless work, particularly during the Crimean War, helped define the principles of nursing and elevate the profession’s critical role in health and healing.
More Recent Healthcare News
Clinic of the Future plans for expanded on-island lab services
January 14, 2026In our latest Clinic of the Future construction update, CEO Mark Driscoll is joined by Natalie Cole, R.N., the Clinic’s Director of Nursing, for a quick look at the first-floor space that will become our new, expanded lab. When the new Clinic opens in late spring, this expanded lab will allow us to do more […]
Seasonal Physician Coverage for Same-Day and Urgent Care
January 2, 2026To best serve our patients during the busy season, the Boca Grande Health Clinic is adding two highly experienced physicians to provide seasonal coverage for same-day and urgent care services. Seasonal coverage this year is provided by Steven R. Newman, M.D., and David Hoang Nguyen, D.O. Dr. Newman is an experienced emergency medicine physician and […]
As construction of the Clinic of the Future progresses, Clinic CEO Mark Driscoll walks you through the space that will house our upgraded imaging equipment, including ultrasound and a CT scanner. This is just another way the Clinic of the Future will enhance our doctors’ ability to diagnose and treat patients more quickly—improving patient outcomes, […]
Here’s What’s New at the Clinic
December 5, 2025As we welcome many of you back to the island, I would like to share a brief update on what’s been happening at the Clinic — from construction progress and new tools that enhance your care today to our plans for strengthening the medical team for the upcoming season. We are incredibly thankful that our […]