You can read Amanda’s story in her own words; please, do. The many subsequent posts are for Amanda as well as inspired by her. I thank her for sharing her time and story with me so I can share it with you in hopes you will share it with others.

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Nurses throughout the U.S. and Canada are standing beside Amanda Trujillo, RN, MSN. We’re talking about this everywhere – in blogs, social media, our offices, you name it. Admittedly, Amanda is a shy person; she’s not accustomed to this attention. Yet, she says, “For the first time, I feel safe; for the first time, I don’t feel alone.”

Why does Amanda’s story resonate with so many of us? Because the majority of us have faced a sliver of Amanda’s story. We’ve each felt alone in our careers – in certain situations – at one point or another, and we don’t think anyone should have to do that. Despite what most believe, there is a strong cohort of nurses who don’t eat our profession’s young; rather, we take them under our wings and mentor them. It’s unfortunate so many nurses do not get to see this amazing group of nurses because they typically find one another, encourage one another, and make their organizations great. The same is true for the bullies – those nurses that really should never provide care for people because they are constantly tearing down everyone they meet. They find one another, too, creating hostile and toxic environments, driving nurses away from the profession and making them think they are failures.

No. More.

Amanda paused during our conversation, explaining the waves of support from healthcare colleagues, “This is the nursing profession I’ve been waiting for, that I’ve always wanted.” You and so many of us, Amanda. We are here. There are amazingly great nurses and organizations. We’re finding one another. We’re standing alongside you.

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There are numerous ways to support Amanda Trujillo, RN, MSN. Join the Nurse Up Facebook page. Donate to her cause. (Remember, no nursing advocacy organization is currently standing with her.) Share her story with your nursing colleagues and local media outlets.