It happened back in 1976, but I still remember the sound of the distant ambulance. Why was I lying in the grass and the weeds? Hadn’t I been in the car, driving home from the Visiting Nurse Association along the country road?

So begins the January Reflections essay, “Nurses Know.” By Lois Gerber, it’s one patient’s vivid story of the many crucial roles that nurses played in her care—and it’s free, so have a look and let us know what you think. For those of you who write or who think you have a strong story to tell about nurses, nursing, or some aspect of health care, Reflections submission guidelines can be found here.—JM, senior editor/blog editor