“Inspire. Innovate. Influence.” That’s the theme the American Nurses Association set for this year’s Nurses Week. But for much of our recent history, however, nurses have not been considered particularly influential or innovative—despite the fact that during the 19th and early 20th centuries, nurses organized hospital systems (Isabel Hampton Robb), designed the public health system and implemented school nursing and community-based care (Lillian Wald), and demonstrated improved outcomes (Mary Breckenridge).

Somehow, as health care became more technology and intervention focused, we were relegated into the “background”—the silent majority at the point of care, but rarely the ones consulted on strategies and planning decisions. (My take: we didn’t directly bring in the revenue to support the higher cost of high-tech care.)

A dawning realization that nurses matter.

But I feel things are changing. Organizations whose goals were driven by quality care began to shift perspective when it became clear that nurses made a big difference in whether those goals could be realized. And as government and insurance reimbursements became increasingly tied to quality, safety, efficiency, and patient satisfaction with care, nurses began to matter even more. We’ve also come to realize that our costly health care system is not meeting the needs for too many Americans.

Now nurses are more visible than ever before. RNs in many areas, from acute and critical care to collaborative primary care practices, are better able to practice to the level of their education and are developing and leading quality improvement programs, demonstrating that nurse-led models of care can achieve high quality and lower costs, as well as greater access to care. (See our “Cultivating Quality” collection on our website—free until May 12.) NPs have won over consumers with the quality and cost-effectiveness of their work and now have full practice authority in 39 states.

Nurses are also being recognized as health system leaders (see the Profile in the May issue on two nurse CEOs of major health organizations) and increasingly gaining positions on governing boards. I’m hopeful that with more nurses on boards and in the boardroom, organizations will more fully support nurses at the point of care—enabling them to practice the way they should and can. Regina Cunningham, CEO of Penn Health and one of the leaders profiled, noted in a recent presentation, “In the history of modern health care, there has never been a better time to capitalize on the knowledge and skills of nurses to advance health.”

Inspiring, influencing and innovating—yep, that’s what we do, and Nurses Week is a reminder that we have successes we can and should celebrate. Now we just have to make sure we spread the word and get recognized for the value each and every one of us brings to work every day.

In honor of Nurses Week, AJN’s entire May issue will be free until May 12.