end of life nursing quotes

• Nursing Apps
• Nursing Blogs & Social Media
• Nurse Gift Ideas
• Nursing Humor
• Nursing Lifehacks
• A Nurse’s Life
• Nursing Mnemonics
• Nursing Pharmacology
• Nursing Quotes and Prayers
• Nursing Schools
• Nursing Skills
• Vintage Nurses
• Nursing Jobs
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Flight Nursing
• Forensic Nursing
• Hospice Nursing
• Neonatal (NICU) Nursing
• Nursing Infographics
• Best Shoes for Nurses
• Nursing Shoes for Men
• Nursing Shoes for Women
• Specialty Nursing Shoes
• Best White Shoes for Clinicals
• Best Comfortable Nursing Shoes
• NCLEX Practice Q’s
• Top Products

45 Inspirational Death Quotes for Nurses

We always have the inclination to fear the unknown, the unfamiliar, the unseen; we avoid pain and grief. It must be the reason why death terrifies us. It’s hard to imagine life without the people we love, or the thought of us and the chapter of our lives ending, never to return. But we do return, one way or another, in ways we just don’t know yet. The idea of traversing a road we have not yet walked on before may frighten us, but aren’t adventures made of things that are yet to unravel?

Nurses aren’t unfamiliar with death but it doesn’t make it any easier; to experience loss is to experience grief. Perhaps one of the comforts we can have lies in the universal awakening that death is not the end. For some, it’s merely a diversion for a greater path. For others, it’s a beautiful repose free of pain and difficulties. In the end, we perceive death and loss differently, but to envision our loved ones and patients happier and at peace helps us move forward and honor the eternal lives they left behind.

For that reason, we have compiled profoundly inspirational quotes and sayings on death to help you deal with grief and longing.

As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death. – Leonardo DaVinci

Unable are the Loved to die, for love is immortality. – Emily Dickinson

How people die remains in the memory of those who live on. – Dame Cicely Saunders

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

26 Powerful Healing Prayers for Cancer Patients

25 Christmas Greetings For Nurses

44 Christmas Quotes For Your Loved Ones

20 Halloween Greetings For Nurses

25 Inspiring Quotes for Suicide Prevention Week

25 Inspiring Love Quotes for Nurses

Advice Nurse: How To Become A Telephone Triage Nurse

Nursing Mnemonics and Acronyms (Nursing Pharmacology)

7 Coolest Nursing Apps You Should Download Now

DIY Christmas Decor Ideas For Nurses

The Surprising Benefits of Pet Therapy in Nursing Homes

Editor picks.

Best Nursing Schools And Programs In California

Preparing Student Nurses for Palliative Care: 7 Tips for Clinical Placement

10 Tips on Advancing Your Nursing Career

Popular posts.

26 Prayers for the Departed and Dearly Missed

26 Miracle Prayers For A Sick Child

POPULAR CATEGORY

• Nursing Tips 123
• Nursing Know-How 109
• Nursing Quotes and Prayers 106
• Nursing Humor 99
• A Nurse's Life 66
• About Nursing <3 56
• Nursing Schools 49
• Product Reviews 47
• Nursing Specialties 39
• Privacy Policy

TODAY’S QUOTE: How to win

31 Amazing Quotes to Boost Resilience For Hospice Nurses

As a hospice nurse, your work goes well beyond your medical training. From the chaos to the quiet moments, yours is a journey that encompasses emotional and spiritual connections at the end of life. Join me as I explore 31 quotes for hospice nurses that encompass the essence of hospice nursing and the impact you make on your patients and their families.

The next time you’re looking for some inspiration, check out the quotes below. 

Compassionate Quotes For Hospice Nurses

Care and compassion are the foundation of hospice nursing. The next time you’re feeling unsure about the care your patient needs, consider this, they need your compassion more than anything else!

I heard the first quote from one of my instructors when I was in LPN nursing school, and it is still my guiding light when I’m feeling lost and unsure.

1. “They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

2. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” -Dalai Lama

3. “Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” -Damon Richards

4. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Ghandi

5. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” -Leo Buscaglia

Self-Care Quotes For Hospice Nurses

As a hospice nurse, you give so much of yourself to your patients and their families. If you want to be your best, you must take time to recharge. 

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

6. “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.” – Irish proverb

7. “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.” – Mother Teresa

8. “A healthy outside starts from the inside.” – Robert Urich

9. “It is not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” – Lena Horne

10. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” – Booker T. Washington

Success Quotes for Hospice Nurses

Have you ever felt like you were in a rut and couldn’t get out?  You might struggle with hospice documentation or getting organized. If so, these quotes might help you pull yourself up and get back at it.

H ospice nursing isn’t easy! Stick with it, you are stronger than you think!

11. “I attribute my success to this; I never gave nor took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale

12. “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” – Spencer Johnson

13. “I’m not telling you it is going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” – Art Williams

14. “Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser

15. “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” – Robin Williams

16. “If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.” – Anonymous

17. “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

18. “Success is what comes after you stop making excuses.” – Luis Galarza

19. “All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.” – Michael John Bobak

20. “You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan

21. “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Quotes for Strength

It takes a lot of courage to walk beside your patient’s at the end of life. You can overcome any challenge and tackle the tough days when you realize that every day is a chance to learn and become stronger! In our family, we always say that failures are data ! So, don’t be afraid to fail.

22. “Hardships often prepare people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

23. “I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.” – Oprah Winfrey

24. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

25. “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” – David Brinkley

26. “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” – Japanese proverb

27. “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.” – Roy T. Bennett

28. “If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.” – Amy Tan

29. “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

30. “Strength is the product of struggle. You must do what others don’t to achieve what others won’t.” – Henry Rollins

31. “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

R EFLECTIONS

 Words have power! This list of 31 quotes is meant to be a guide to finding light when you feel darkness and compassion when you feel burnt out. I wish you peace and happiness as you walk this precious path with your hospice patients.

University Administration

• Careers @ USA
• For Current Students
• Request Information
• Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
• Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD)
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Doctor of 
Education (EdD)
• Graduate Certificates
• Clinical Orthopedic Residency (OCS)
• Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship (OMPT)
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Non-Degree Physical Therapy Online Courses
• Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP)
• Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Browse All Degree-Programs
• Admissions & Aid Home
• Scholarships & Grants
• How to Apply
• Cost of Attendance
• Financial Aid
• Application Deadlines
• Academic Calendar
• Financial Aid FAQ
• Admissions FAQs
• Catalog/Handbook
• Our History
• Accreditation
• B Corp Certified
• Change of Ownership
• Student Achievement Data
• Institutional Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
• Diversity & Inclusion
• San Marcos, California
• St. Augustine, Florida
• Miami, Florida
• Austin, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Our Faculty
• Board of Directors

Nursing MSN & DNP

| 20 June 2024

85 Nursing Quotes: Words of Wisdom for Nurses

Nursing is a profession that requires intelligence, motivation and determination. Since nursing school can be hard , and shift work is even more challenging, it’s important to remain inspired. In this post, we share quotes about nurses to help you stay connected to your original dream and draw on strength to power through.

Jump to a section below to find:

• Quotes about nursing
• Nursing school quotes
• Inspirational nursing quotes
• Funny nursing quotes
• Nursing graduation quotes

Quotes About Nursing

• “Save one life, you’re a hero. Save 100 lives, you’re a nurse.” — Unknown
• “A nurse is not what you do. It is what you are…I am a nurse. It’s not what I do, it’s what I am.” — Unknown
• “Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their greatest strength and fatal flaw.” — Jean Watson, American nurse theorist and nursing professor
• “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” — Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish economist and diplomat
• “A nurse is one who opens the eyes of a newborn and gently closes the eyes of a dying man. It is indeed a high blessing to be the first and last to witness the beginning and end of life.” — Unknown
• “Caring is the essence of nursing.” — Jean Watson
• “Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” — Val Saintsbury
• “Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.” — Christina Feist-Heilmeier, RN
• “Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death.” — Christine Belle
• “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” — Dr. William Osler, Canadian physician and founder of Johns Hopkins University
• “America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.” — Barack Obama
• “Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said ‘the finest of fine arts.’” — Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing
• “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.” — Robin Williams in Patch Adams
• “Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are ‘just doing our jobs.’” — Christine Belle
• “When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” — Unknown
• “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” — Mother Teresa
• “Not all angels have wings…some have scrubs.” — Unknown

Nursing School Quotes

• “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale, American radio speaker and author
• “Forgive yourself; you are not perfect. Show yourself grace; you are still learning. Show yourself patience; you are on a journey.” — Unknown
• “Hardships often prepare people for an extraordinary destiny.” — C.S. Lewis
• “To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can, in spite of all we go through, is to be a nurse.” — Rawsi Williams, JD, BSN, RN, PhD
• “I never dreamed about success—I worked for it.” — Estée Lauder
• “Nothing will work unless you do.” — Maya Angelou
• “When you feel like quitting, remember why you started.” — Unknown
• “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” — Art Williams, businessman and coach
• “It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together.” — Unknown
• “While that’s correct…it’s not the most correct. This is nursing school.” — Unknown
• “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo, educator
• “Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.” — Florence Nightingale
• “Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse.” — Elizabeth Kenny, Australian bush nurse
• “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” — Chinese proverb
• “Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” — Florence Nightingale
• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela
• “Although your educational journey may be difficult at times, you will reap the reward of utmost satisfaction when holding your nursing diploma for the first time—and nothing will ever compare to the fulfillment that improving and saving the lives of others will bring!” — Mikhail Shneyder, Nightingale College president and CEO

Inspirational Nursing Quotes

• “Value what you do and add value by what you do.” — Unknown
• “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For passion will lead you right into your purpose.” — Bishop T.D. Jakes, evangelist
• “Nurses—one of the few blessings of being ill.” — Sara Moss-Wolfe
• “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Sometimes I inspire my patients; more often, they inspire me.” — Unknown
• “Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.” — Unknown
• “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi
• “Be the nurse you would want as a patient.” — Unknown
• “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.” — Plato
• “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this something, at whatever cost, must be attained.” — Marie Curie
• “Nurses are the heart of healthcare.” — Donna Wilk Cardillo, MA, RN, CSP, FAAN
• “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — William Shakespeare
• “The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” — Carolyn Jarvis
• “A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope.” — Carrie Latet
• “Happiness…consists of giving, and in serving others.” — Henry Drummond, evangelist
• “As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
• “Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.” — Charles Dickens

Funny Nursing Quotes

• “Treat the patient as a whole, not just the hole in the patient.” — Unknown
• “Just so you know, doctors are here to diagnose, not heal. We heal.” — Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie
• “May your scrubs be comfy, your coffee be strong, and your Monday be short.” — Unknown
• “No, RN does not stand for ‘Refreshments and Narcotics.’” — Unknown
• “Yes, I am a nurse. No, I don’t want to look at it.” — Unknown
• “Don’t mess with me—I get paid to stab people with sharp objects.” — Unknown
• “Hand sanitizer has started to become your best friend.” — Unknown
• “How can anybody hate nurses? Nobody hates nurses. The only time you hate a nurse is when they’re giving you an enema.” — Warren Beatty
• “I’m a nurse. What’s your superpower?” — Unknown
• “I’ve come to the realization that I’ll touch anything as long as I have gloves on.” — Unknown
• “Nursing is not a career…it’s a post-apocalyptic survival skill.” — Unknown
• “You know you work in healthcare when you can discuss puke and bowel movements at the lunch table and no one flinches.” — Unknown
• “Remember, I’m a nurse. You’re going to have to say a lot to gross me out.” — Unknown
• “Sometimes I have to remind myself around my non-nurse friends not to talk about bodily functions.” — Unknown
• “I’m a nurse because ‘miracle worker’ isn’t an official title.” — Unknown
• “No, I will not rub your feet. I am a nurse, not a masseur.” — Unknown
• “I’m a nurse—nothing scares me.” — Unknown

Nurse Quotes for Graduating Students

• “Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your presence felt.” — Grace Lichtenstein, Author
• “Fill your mind with truth. Fill your heart with love. Fill your life with service.” — Vaughn J. Featherstone, American missionary
• “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.” — Mother Teresa
• “Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on Earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.” — Vincent Van Gogh
• “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss
• “I attribute my success to this; I never gave nor took any excuse.” — Florence Nightingale
• “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Unknown
• “Success comes to those who are too busy to look for it.” — Henry David Thoreau
• “When I think about all the patients and their loved ones I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don’t remember me, nor I, them. But I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them, and they to me, and those threads make up the tapestry that is my career in nursing.” — Donna Wilk Cardillo, MA, RN, CSP, FAAN
• “There no longer has to be a difference between who you are and what you do.” — Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur and author
• “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
• “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou
• “So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.” — Florence Nightingale
• .“How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” — Florence Nightingale
• “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” — Salvador Dali
• “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” — Florence Nightingale
• “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Want to know more about our nursing programs?

The best nurses are passionate and dedicated to the work that they do. They stay motivated during hard times and brush off the little things. Nurse quotes like the 85 we shared can help keep your fire lit for this demanding but fulfilling profession.

A career in nursing is challenging, but it’s even more rewarding. If you want to become a nurse practitioner or to take on other advanced roles in nursing, check out the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS).

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and Post-Graduate Nursing Certificates designed for working nurses. Our degrees are offered online, with optional on-campus immersions.* Role specialties include Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Nurse Educator,** and Nurse Executive. The MSN has several options to accelerate your time to degree completion. Complete coursework when and where you want—and earn your advanced nursing degree while keeping your work and life in balance.

*The FNP role specialty includes two required hands-on clinical intensives as part of the curriculum.  

**The Nurse Educator role specialty is not available for the DNP program.

• Caring Nurses Services, “The 13 Reasons Why Nurses Are Great,” Caring Nurses Services , January 29, 2018, http://www.caringnurse.org/13-reasons-why-a-compilation-of-powerful-quotes-about-how-great-nurses-are .
• Nurse Buff, “75 Inspirational Nursing Quotes for Graduation,” Nurse Buff , April 4, 2022, https://www.nursebuff.com/nursing-graduation-quotes/ .
• Nurse Fuel, “Inspirational Nursing Quotes to Help Get You Through Your Day,” Nurse Fuel , 2024,  http://nursefuel.com/nursing-quotes-inspirational/ .
• Nurse Theory, “66 Inspirational Nursing Quotes to Lift Your Mood,” Nurse Theory , 2024, https://www.nursetheory.com/nursing-quotes/

ARE YOU INSPIRED?

There could be an article about you here one day. Take charge of your own life-story!

Take charge of your own life-story

More Nursing MSN & DNP Articles

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner: A Practical Guide

16 Types of Master’s in Nursing: Roles and Salaries

Advanced Nursing Degrees to Accelerate Career Growth

Upcoming nursing msn & dnp events.

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP) - Academic Webinar - September 23 | USAHS

Occupational Therapy (OTD, OTD Flex, MOT, & MOT Flex) – Academic Webinar - September 24 | USAHS

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Academic Webinar - September 25 | USAHS

• Pre-Nursing
• Nursing School
• After Graduation

55 Nursing Quotes To Inspire, Motivate, And Remind You Why You Chose To Become A Nurse

• Over 125 Years of Healthcare Expertise: 125+ years of combined healthcare experience with a focus in nursing education.
• Exceptional User Satisfaction: 4.9/5 average rating from 3,500+ reviews across TrustPilot , WorthePenny , Better Business Bureau, and other trusted review sites.
• Proven Success: Over 1 million nurses served since 2012 with a 99% NCLEX pass rate ( 2024 NCLEX average pass rate = 79%).
• Team Composition: Staff includes RNs, MSNs, DHSs, nursing professors, and current/former NCLEX question writers.

Jump to Sections

It takes a special person to become a nurse. The recent Covid-19 pandemic has proven this to be true. Nursing is a career in which you will face many challenges, but it can also be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever experience. 

In an article by BusinessInsider , nurses discuss the most difficult aspects of the job. Death, long shifts, and lack of respect top the list of struggles many nurses face. The pressure of the role alone can be enough to weigh heavily on a person. 

The challenges of this career path start long before you become an official Registered Nurse: they start day one of nursing school. Anyone who has been in nursing school for even a brief period of time knows it is a long, arduous journey to graduation, and then to landing that dream job. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re starting your first hour of studying or your first 12 hour shift, all nurses and nursing students could use some motivation and a little laughter. That little boost to get them through their day. Here are some inspirational nursing quotes to help get the job done.

1 “You’re off to great places, today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Suess

2. “The hardest part is getting started.” – Unknown

3. “Fail early..fail often..fail forward” – Unknown

4. “Growth starts where your comfort zone ends.” – Unknown

6. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X

7. “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.”  – Art Williams

8. “Be the nurse you want to work with.” – Unknown

9. “Remember, nurses are like icebergs. At any one time, you are only seeing what they are actually doing.” – Ian Miller.

11. “Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring.” -Sharon Hudacek

12. “You don’t build a house without its foundation. You don’t build a hospital without its Nurses.” – Unknown

13. “Be nice to your nurse. They’re the person who chooses your catheter size.”  – Unknown

14. “Every nurse has a best friend, Pam: LorazePAM, DiazePAM, and ClonazePAM.” – Unknown

15. “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” – Rawsi Williams

16. “Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” – Val Saintsbury

18. “America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.” – Barack Obama

19. “A wild pandemic isn’t what I had in mind for the year of the nurse.” – Unknown

20. “Nursing would be a dream job if there were no doctors.” – Gerhard Kocher

21. “Nursing is not a career…it’s a post-apocalyptic survival skill.” – Unknown

22. “Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their biggest strength and fatal flaw.” – Dr. Jean Watson

23. “The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” – Carolyn Jarvis

24. “A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope.” – Carrie Latet

26. “Nursing is most definitely like a box of chocolates..you never know what you’re going to get.” – Unknown

27.  “Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” – Florence Nightingale

28. “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win.. no matter the outcome.” – Robin Williams

29. “Shift change is my favorite time of day.” – Unknown

30. “You know you are a big deal when the government thinks you are essential.” – Unknown

31. “Not all angels have wings … Some have scrubs and a stethoscope.” – Unknown

32. “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway”  – Earl Nightingale

33. “Save one person, you’re a hero. Save hundreds, you’re a nurse.” – Unknown

35. “When you are a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” – Unknown

36. “Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring.” – Sharon Hudacek

37. “Nurses make excellent road trip companions…they can hold their pee for hours.” – Unknown

38. “As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

39. “Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.” – Unknown

40. “Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet. No wonder we’re exhausted at the end of the day!” – Donna Wilk Cardillo

41. “Treat every patient like they are family.” – Unknown

42. “Nursing..the only profession that cares about bowel movement.” – Unknown

43. “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing”. – Mother Teresa

44. “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” -Dag Hammarskjold

45. “Doctors put a wall up between themselves and their patients; nurses broke it down.” – Jodi Picoult

47. “Nurses are angels in comfortable shoes.” – Unknown

48. “Nurses: one of the few blessings of being ill.” -Unknown

49. “Nurses are the unsung heroes of our society.” – Unknown

50. “Being a nurse means to hold all your own tears and start drawing smiles on people’s faces.” – Dana Basem

51. “Every nurse is an angel with a key for a healthy community! All in caring for patients is part of the nursing soul!” – Alexsandar Radunovic

52. “Care for one…that’s love. Care for hundreds…that’s nursing.” – Unknown

53. “Nurses may not be angels, but they are the next best thing!” – Unknown

54. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

55. “The doctors may be mapping out the war games, but it is the nurses who make the conflict bearable.” – Jodi Picoult

Get FREE Stuff

Let us email you free weekly content to help you pass nursing school and the NCLEX

• Nursing school study guides
• Exclusive video access
• Exam practice questions
• Subscriber-only discounts

Share this post

Nursing students trust simplenursing.

SimpleNursing Student Testimonial

Most recent posts.

How to Mix Insulin

“Clear to cloudy.” This is a common phrase that you might hear when it comes…

Decorticate vs Decerebrate

Did you know the arms and legs can provide insight into the severity of a…

Nursing Mnemonics to Save Time and Help Pass Your Exams

Nurses are responsible for remembering a wealth of critically important information. Nursing mnemonics are acronyms…

The Nursing Process: Understanding Its Purpose & Steps

Becoming a nurse is a journey filled with learning, growth, challenges, and — most importantly…

Find what you are interested in

Education: SimpleNursing Editorial Team Education

Hospice Quotes – Inspiring Words of Wisdom and Comfort

Hospice is not about giving up, it’s about finding peace.

Hospice is a journey of love and compassion.

Hospice reminds us to live each day to the fullest.

Sometimes the best gift we can give is the gift of comfort.

Hospice provides a safe and caring environment for those in need.

Hospice is a sanctuary for the soul.

Hospice is a gentle embrace during life’s final moments.

Hospice is a reminder that we are never alone in our pain.

In hospice, every moment is precious and meaningful.

Hospice allows us to find solace in the midst of sorrow.

Hospice is a bridge between this life and the next.

Hospice is a compassionate response to suffering.

In hospice, love becomes the greatest medicine of all.

Hospice is a reminder that there is beauty in every stage of life.

Hospice is a celebration of a life well-lived.

Hospice honors the dignity of each individual.

Hospice brings comfort to both the body and the soul.

In hospice, the focus is on quality of life, not quantity.

Hospice provides a safe space for reflection and healing.

Hospice reminds us to live with intention and purpose.

Hospice is a reminder to cherish every moment we have.

Hospice brings light to the darkest of days.

Hospice is a support system for patients and their loved ones.

In hospice, we learn the power of presence and empathy.

Hospice Quotes – Inspiring Words of Wisdom and Comfort part 2

Hospice is a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help.

Hospice is a space where love never dies.

In hospice, every life story is cherished and honored.

Hospice allows us to find peace in the midst of chaos.

Hospice is a reminder that there is strength in vulnerability.

Hospice is a gift of compassion and understanding.

In hospice, every goodbye is filled with love.

Hospice reminds us that it’s never too late to find peace.

Hospice is a reminder that we are all connected.

Hospice is a sanctuary for the heart.

In hospice, we learn the true meaning of grace.

Hospice brings comfort in the midst of pain.

Hospice is a reminder that life is a precious gift.

Hospice is a journey of love, loss, and healing.

In hospice, we learn to embrace the circle of life.

Hospice is a beacon of hope in the midst of despair.

Hospice is a reminder that we are never alone in our grief.

Hospice teaches us to find strength in the midst of sorrow.

In hospice, we learn to cherish the moments that matter most.

Hospice is a reminder that love never dies.

Hospice brings comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

Hospice is a reminder to live each day with gratitude.

Hospice is a reminder that it’s okay to let go.

In hospice, we learn the power of listening and understanding.

Hospice is a celebration of life’s journey.

Hospice is a reminder to live a life that leaves a lasting legacy.

Leave a Reply for Hospice Quotes – Inspiring Words of Wisdom and Comfort Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

With the article Hospice Quotes – Inspiring Words of Wisdom and Comfort is also read

Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M. get the money, dollar dollar bill, y’all – Wu-Tang Clan Protect ya neck, ’cause

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. And then they awkwardly

Home is not a place, it’s a feeling of being surrounded by loved ones. There’s no distance too far when

The mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open. Love is not something you find. Love

Believe in your dreams and watch them come true. Don’t be afraid to take risks and follow your heart. Happiness

Fear is the greatest aphrodisiac. In the darkest corners of our soul, true evil resides. The night is my canvas,

Get the best car insurance quotes in South Carolina. Protect your car with affordable insurance quotes in SC. Driving without

I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that. I am completely operational, and all my circuits are functioning perfectly.

Write for Us

TheThingsWeSay

Personality Quizzes

ILikeToQuote

Unsubscribe

[email protected]

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Culture and Lifestyle
• Quotes and Sayings

90 Nurse Quotes To Uplift And Honor Our Heroes

Send the nurse in your life one of these quotes to express just how much you appreciate them.

Inspirational Nurse Quotes

Funny nurse quotes, quotes that show appreciation, motivational quotes for nurses, short quotes for nurses.

To honor our nurses, we wanted to share some of our favorite inspirational and humorous quotes. Many of the quotes are from unknown authors, but we bet most of them came from nurses! Share one or two of these quotes to thank your favorite nurse today.

• "As a nurse we have the opportunity to heal the mind, soul, heart, and body of our patients. They may forget your name but they will never forget how you made them feel." —Maya Angelou
• "No matter how difficult the days may get, don't forget the reason you became a nurse." —Unknown
• "Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate everything and soft enough to understand everyone." —Unknown
• "Every nurse has that one patient that they'll remember forever." —Unknown
• "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse." —Florence Nightingale
• "The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." —Carolyn Jarvis
• “When you are a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” —Unknown
• “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.” — Judy Blume
• “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” —Florence Nightingale
• “Just so you know, doctors are here to diagnose, not heal. We heal.” —Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie
• “When I think about all the patients and their loved ones I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don’t remember me, nor I them. But I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them, and they to me, and those threads make up the tapestry that is my career in nursing.” —Donna Wilk Cardillo, MA, RN, CSP
• “Being a nurse means to hold all your own tears and start drawing smiles on people’s faces.” —Dana Basem
• “Nurses are always there, you care for us from the earliest years. You look after us in our happiest and saddest times. And for many, you look after us and our families at the end of our lives. Your dedication and professionalism are awe-inspiring.” — Duchess Kate Middleton
• “A nurse is one who opens the eyes of a newborn and gently closes the eyes of a dying man. It is indeed a high blessing to be the first and last to witness the beginning and end of life.” —Unknown
• “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” —William Shakespeare
• "Don't mess with me, I get paid to stab people with sharp objects." —Unknown
• "Be nice to me…I may be your nurse someday and remember…catheters and needles come in sizes that I choose!" —Unknown
• "May your cup runneth over, unless it's that urine specimen cup you're trying to hand me." —Unknown
• “Be nice to your nurse. They’re the person who chooses your catheter size.” —Unknown
• “Nursing would be a dream job if there were no doctors.” —Gerhard Kocher
• “Shift change is my favorite time of day.” —Unknown
• “Always thank your nurse! Sometimes they’re the only one between you and a hearse.” —Warren Beatty
• “Yes, I am a nurse. No, I don’t want to look at it.” —Unknown
• “Not all angels have wings… some have scrubs.” —Unknown
• “May your scrubs be comfy, your coffee be strong, and your Monday be short .” —Unknown
• “Remember, I’m a nurse. You’re going to have to say a lot to gross me out.” —Unknown
• “I’m a nurse. What’s your superpower?” —Unknown
• “You know you’re a nurse when your finger has gone places you never thought possible.” —Unknown
• “Nurse: the first person you see after saying, ‘Hold my beer and watch this!’” —Unknown
• “Nurses can’t fix stupid… but we can sedate it.” —Unknown
• “I love being a nurse, but I mostly love wearing scrubs. They’re basically professional pajamas.” —Unknown
• “I came, I cared, I charted” —Unknown
• “You think Mondays are bad? Try working weekends, holidays, and 12 hour nights” —Unknown
• “No, RN does not stand for ‘Refreshments and Narcotics.’” —Unknown
• “Hand sanitizer has started to become your best friend.” —Unknown
• “I’ve come to the realization that I’ll touch anything as long as I have gloves on.” —Unknown
• “You know you work in healthcare when you can discuss puke and bowel movements at the lunch table and no one flinches.” —Unknown
• “Sometimes I have to remind myself around my non-nurse friends not to talk about bodily functions.” —Unknown
• "Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription." —Val Saintsbury
• “America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.” —Barack Obama
• "The doctors may be mapping out the war games, but it is the nurses who make the conflict bearable. —Jodi Picoult
• “Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their biggest strength and fatal flaw.” —Dr. Jean Watsonla
• “A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope.” —Carrie Latet
• “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead
• “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” —Dag Hammarskjold
• “Remember, nurses are like icebergs. At any one time, you are only seeing what they are actually doing.” —Ian Miller
• “Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy…nurses are rarely short on caring.” —Sharon Hudacek
• “It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly.” —Stephen Ambrose
• “Nurses—one of the few blessings of being ill.” —Sara Moss-Wolfe
• "You didn't even know me, yet you treated me like family…I'll never forget that. Thank you." —Unknown
• “The nurse is temporarily the consciousness of the unconscious, the love of life of the suicidal, the leg of the amputee, the eyes of the newly blind, a means of locomotion for the newborn, knowledge, and confidence for the young mother, a voice for those too weak to speak, and so on.” —Virginia Henderson, RN
• “Nurses are the hospitality of the hospital.” —Carrie Latet
• “Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said ‘the finest of fine arts.’” —Florence Nightingale
• "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle." —Plato
• “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” —Art Williams
• “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win...no matter the outcome.” —Robin Williams, Patch Adams
• “Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.” —H. Jackson Brown Jr.
• “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” —Rawsi Williams
• “Knowing is better than wondering, waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying.” — Grey’s Anatomy
• “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put into doing”. —Mother Teresa
• “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” —Mahatma Gandhi
• “Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” —Aristotle
• “There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” —Rosalyn Carter
• “Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” —Emory Austin
• “What you do makes a difference. And you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall
• “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” —Mother Teresa
• “Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.” —Charles Dickens
• "Save one life, you're a hero. Save a hundred lives, you're a nurse." —Unknown
• “A nurse is not what you do. It is what you are…. I am a nurse. It’s not what I do, it’s what I am.” —Unknown
• “Treat the patient as a whole, not just the hole in the patient.” —Unknown
• “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.” —Florence Nightingale
• “Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.” —Christina Feist-Heilmeier, RN
• “The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” —Carolyn Jarvis
• “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.”—Florence Nightingale
• "Nurses are the heart of healthcare." —Donna Wilk Cardillo
• “For the sick, it is important to have the best.” —Florence Nightingale
• “From caring comes courage.” —Lao Tzu
• “Be the nurse you want to work with.” —Unknown
• “Treat every patient like they are family.” —Unknown
• "No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted." —Aesop
• “It is not enough to be compassionate—you must act.” —The Dalai Lama
• “I never dreamed about success—I worked for it.” —Estée Lauder
• “Nurses are angels in comfortable shoes.” —Unknown
• “I’m a nurse because miracle worker isn’t an official title.” —Unknown
• “Sometimes I inspire my patients; more often, they inspire me.” —Unknown
• “Be the nurse you would want as a patient.” —Unknown
• “What angels are to the sad, nurses are to the sick.” —Amit Kalantri
• “A nurse is compassion in scrubs” —Lexie Saige
• “Caring is the essence of nursing.” —Jean Watson

Related Articles

112 Inspirational Nurse Quotes about Real-Life Heroes

Have you ever found yourself being taken care of by a great nurse? Being a caring professional in a hospital can often be highly demanding in so many different ways. To celebrate those everyday heroes, we have created a collection of truly inspirational nurse quotes. Enjoy reading.

Nurses are without a doubt part of the health-care industry’s hardest working professionals. They are not only expected to provide flawless medical services but are also expected to take care of an ever-increasing amount of patients. Not to mention that they are heavily underpaid, unfortunately.

“The hospital will never be healthy for patients if it’s not a healthy environment for nurses, where their voices are heard and where they can care for their patients and use the full extent of their knowledge, abilities, and skills. After all, hospitals today have become one big intensive care unit: all patients need intensive caring.” Tilda Shalof

Aside from working 10- or 12-hour shifts, nurses often have to provide emotional support, aside from their real duties. While doctors are mostly concerned with diagnosing and treating humans, nurses will be at your side to help you get back up.

These inspirational nurse quotes will lift you up when you’ve had a bad day at the hospital

Nurses are the unsung heroes of our society and they definitely deserve to be treated much better in every way imaginable. The following list of nurse quotes is a big shout out to all those amazing individuals who give 110% day after day to help their patients get better.

Nurses do not necessarily make headlines but they become everyday heroes for so many patients by caring for them compassionately and with a lot of expertise. To the people they are taking care of, a nurses’ almost limitless effort truly makes a difference.

When it comes to the well-being of a patient, nurses can have a big impact. A nurses’ professional treatment and medical skills play an important part in the recovery of people that are sick. However, it is their kindness, care, attention, and sensitivity that can have an even bigger influence.

Here’s our collection of inspirational nursing quotes

“Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.” Brittany Wilson

“To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” Rawsi Williams

“Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are “just doing our jobs” Christine Belle

“Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy, nurses are rarely short on caring” Sharon Hdacek

“Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.” Christina Feist-Heilmeier

“It’s just like nurses in a hospital tend to know more than the doctors most of the time; if you really want to get the answers to a question about court, you should spend more time buttering up the clerks than the judges.” Jodi Picoult

“Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet” Donna Wilk Cardillo

“Most of all, you need moral courage because nursing is about the pursuit of justice. It requires you to stand up to bullies, to do things that are right but difficult, and to speak your mind even when you are afraid. I wasn’t strong like this when I started out. Nursing made me strong.” Tilda Shalof

“Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” Dag Hammarskjold

“Caring is the essence of nursing” Jean Watson

Can’t get enough of inspirational nurse quotes? Keep on reading…

“The longer I’m in the profession, the more experiences shape my life, the more amazing colleagues influence me, the more I see the micro and macro power of nursing” Joni Watson

“It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly” Stephen Ambrose

“Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” Val Saintsbury

“Nursing is rarely boring or predictable. In few other professions, we are present at life’s most momentous events, from birth to death, from crisis to recovery” Diane Barnet

“I know I will always be a nurse. My roots in nursing are strong and deep.” Laurie Barkin

“Nurses are the hospitality of the hospital” Carrie Latet

“The nurses know the name of your daughter’s stuffed walrus and show her how to make tissue paper flowers to twine around her IV stand. The doctors may be mapping out the war games, but it is the nurses who make the conflict bearable.” Jodi Picoult

“Nurses help people. And in doing so, we receive the unmatched satisfaction of knowing that we have made a difference to patients and their families” Dawn Marino

“When you help someone and change his/her life, you are an extraordinary person. When you save someone’s life, you are a hero. When you help people and save their lives every day, you are a nurse.” Ghassan Shahrour

“Save one life and you’re a hero, save one hundred lives and you’re a nurse” Peter Hacker

“In its basic form, nursing can be seen as a duty, but beyond the incessant operational activities that lay the foundation of our daily work, the profession is all about grace. Helping people is a noble calling. It is a privilege to serve my fellow human beings.” Katherine Soh

“”Sometimes I inspire my patients; more often they inspire me.” — Nell Hodgson

“I’m often asked, “Isn’t nursing depressing?” I have experienced real depression in my life, but not because of my profession. Nursing is the opposite of despair; it offers the opportunity to do something about suffering.” Tilda Shalof

“The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” Carolyn Jarvis

“It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.” Mother Teresa

Here are some uplifting quotes for nurses

“Nursing is a kind of mania; a fever in the blood; an incurable disease which, once contracted, cannot be got out of the system. If it was not like that, there would be no hospital nurses, for compared dispassionately with other professions, the hours are long, the work hard, and the pay inadequate to the amount of concentrated energy required. A nurse, however, does not view her profession dispassionately. It is too much a part of her.” Monica Dickens

“A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope” Terri Guillemets

“There ain’t no feelin’ in the world like takin’ on somebody wilted and near bout gone, and you do what you can, and then all a-sudden the pore thang starts to put out new growth and git well.” Olive Ann Burns

“I keep thinking about a tale my nurse used to read to me about a bird whose wings are pinned to the ground. In the end, when he finally frees himself, he flies so high he becomes a star. My nurse said the story was about how we all have something that keeps us down.” Shannon Hale

“Four impressionable years spent in a number of very different hospitals convinced me once for all that nursing, if it is to be done efficiently, requires, more than any other occupation, abundant leisure in colorful surroundings, sufficient money to spend on amusements, agreeable food to re-establish the energy expended, and the removal of anxiety about illness and old age; yet of all skilled professions, it is still the least vitalized by these advantages, still the most oppressed by unnecessary worries, cruelties, hardships, and regulations.” Vera Brittain

“The nurse smiled and patted my arm. “Don’t give up yet. Sometimes when we think God has written The End, what he really means is The Beginning.” Rachel Van Dyken

“The most important practical lesson that can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe-how to observe-what symptoms indicate improvement-what the reverse-which are of importance-which are of none-which are the evidence of neglect-and of what kind of neglect.” Florence Nightingale

“There are only four kinds of people in the world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who are currently caregivers. Those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver.” Rosalyn Carter

“The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.” Florence Nightingale

“Doctors put a wall up between themselves and their patients; nurses broke it down.” Jodi Picoult

Nursing quotes like this restore your faith in your profession

“You have to be strong to be a nurse. You need strong muscles and stamina for the long shifts and heavy lifting, intelligence, and discipline to acquire knowledge and exercise critical thinking.” Tilda Shalof

“I was taught that the most hardworking nurse is found at the dirtiest part of the clinical ward.” Israelmore Ayivor

“The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who is suffering from it” Moses Maimonides

“I have seen a lot of ugly things as a trainee and as a nurse, but they don’t bother me very much. It’s not that the familiarity hardens one; it is rather that one learns the knack of channeling one’s emotions around the ugly thing.” Theodore Sturgeon

“How did I prepare for night shifts? When I was a small, anxious kid, I checked my mom in her sleep to make sure she was still breathing.” Joyce Rachelle

“The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.” Carson McCullers

“The more love and support your child receives, the richer his or her life becomes, and nurses can certainly add to the circle of love surrounding your child.” Charisse Montgomery

“Every job from the heart is, ultimately, of equal value. The nurse injects the syringe. Monetary income is the perfect deceiver of a man’s true worth.” Criss Jami

“When you’re a nurse you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours” Florence Nightingale

“The nurses, I have already learned, are the ones who give us the answers we’re desperate for. Unlike the doctors, who fidget like they need to be somewhere else, the nurses patiently answer us as if we are the first set of parents to ever have this kind of meeting with them, instead of the thousandth.” Jodi Picoult

These quotes about nurses truly hit home

“The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest” William Osler

“When ill, the patient assumes what Parsons called “the sick-role”. Accordingly, the sick person is, on the one hand, excused his or her social responsibilities, but, on the other hand, is expected to desire a return to health and to comply unquestioningly with the directives of medical experts in order to achieve this goal” Mary Lindemann

“Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken” Christine Bell

“Whether you teach or live in the cloister or nurse the sick, whether you are in religion or out of it, married or single, no matter who you are or what you are, you are called to the summit of perfection: you are called to a deep interior life perhaps even too mystical prayer, and to pass the fruits of your contemplation on to others. And if you cannot do so by word, then by example.” Thomas Merton

“My caregiver mantra is to remember: The only control you have is over the changes you choose to make.” Nancy L. Kriseman

“Finding a good nurse is not just about checking off a list of skills the nurse can perform; it’s also about finding someone who is a good fit for your home.” Charisse Montgomery

“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” Tia Walker

“It is the nurses who are the seasoned sergeants – the ones who are there when your baby is shaking with such a high fever she needs to be bathed in ice.” Jodi Picoult

“”Be the nurse you would want as a patient.” Unknown

“We had only two nurses in the terminal wing, me and her. I had to take care of all the other patients, while all she did was take care of you. For fifteen days and nights, she unwrapped you and cleaned you and changed your dressings. Every three hours. She was a ghost by the end. But you made it.” Paullina Simons

“Fifteen years has seen many ups and downs at the workplace, but I have enjoyed serving the many patients who come into my care, and have prayed for the souls of those who were on the brink of death.” Katherine Soh

“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today.” Amy Leigh Mercree

“It is impossible to describe exactly what I learn, though I know it lies somewhere between science and art. It is all about the smallest details and understanding how they make the biggest difference.” Christie Watson

“A nurse is not what you do. It is what you are… I am a nurse. It’s not what I do, it’s what I AM.” Florence Nightingale

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.” Tia Walker

These uplifting nurse quotes help you through bad days

“If listening was truly a lifesaving measure, then night shift was a prime time for saving lives. The cover of darkness provided safe cover for the truth to emerge. Confessions, words that people didn’t even know resided in them, flew like startled bats into the night. People confessed to stealing things, to hurting people, to loving some and hating others.” Karla Theilen

“If Christian scientists had more science and doctors more Christianity, it wouldn’t make any difference which you called in – if you had a good nurse.” Finley Peter Dunne

“The partnership between nurses and families is based on mutual trust, and defining the boundaries and rules clearly will help everyone involved, especially your child.” Charisse Montgomery

“Her dream of becoming a nurse was no ordinary yearning: it was the product of a desire as richly and completely imagined as a novel or a poem. It recalled for him what it meant to be driven to better yourself, to lay claim to a wider world.” Amitav Ghosh

“Caring is the essence of nursing.” Jean Watson

“It was a lesson she was still learning. When she had first started nursing, she had taken every death personally, like she was losing her father all over again. Every patient lost under her care was a little piece of death she would carry around with her until the end of her own life. But the alternative seemed so unfeeling.” Andrea Lochen

“She said she was a nurse. I replied that she must have a lot of patience—and patients. I would have said more, but I ran out of homophones.” Jarod Kintz

“We will meet people on the way: patients, relatives, and staff – people you may recognize already. Because we are all nursed at some point in our lives. We are all nurses.” Christie Watson

“You come to rely, more than anything else, on first sight. You walk into the room and you think, sick or not sick. Not sick goes home as fast as possible. Sick, you watch. You draw blood, you order X rays, you give them fluids. You are careful, because a little bell went off in your head when you walked into the room and saw them.” Frank Huyler

“Whether women work in the care sector because the wages are low or whether wages are low because women work there is a question that cannot be answered. But we know that a big reason for economic inequality is that women to a much greater extent work with care.” Katrine Marçal

“Before you treat a man with a condition, know that not all cures can heal all people. For the chemistry that works on one patient may not work for the next, because even medicine has its own conditions.” Suzy Kassem

“Caregivers attract caregivers and live in a community of love. They are energized by their caring, fulfilled, and they love life.” Gary Zukav

“Obtaining a certificate in nursing assistant trains students to provide quality care to residents in nursing homes.” Cassie Brode

“Nightingale set up trials in which patients were randomly assigned to trained and untrained nurses, it became clear that the cohort of patients treated by trained nurses fared much better than their counterparts inwards with untrained nurses.” Simon Singh

“Nurses are angels in comfortable shoes.” Unknown

“There is no real bravery in getting paid to save someone’s life. However, there is a large amount of bravery in a nurse break dancing at the hospital’s Christmas party.” Shannon Alder

“I’m just a girl in a nurse’s uniform, but that doesn’t mean I know how to save these men, and they – they are men in uniforms, but that doesn’t mean they know how to die.” Marcus Sedgwick

“For having a baby’s sweet face so close to your own, for so long a time as it takes to nurse ’em, is a great tonic for a sad soul.” Erica Eisdorfer

“The nurse knew that those who really love, love in silence, with deeds and not with words.” Carlos Ruiz Zafón

“You must never so much think as whether you like it or not, whether it is bearable or not; you must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it.” Clara Barton

“Slowly you may have transformed from a helper to one in need of help. It’s important to talk about this, to identify the wounds you carry.” Jenn Bruer

“We get used to seeing the patients ill; even used to them dying. When they do we get upset if we know them. We can’t get upset for those we don’t know. We have to forget them. We’d all have nervous breakdowns if we didn’t.” Lucilla Andrews

“A nurse is one who opens the eyes of a newborn & gently closes the eyes of a dying man. It is indeed a high blessing to be the first and last to witness the beginning and end of life.” Unknown

“Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.” Mason Cooley

“Too much profit is being made at the expense of unsuspecting patients.” Melissa Cady

Here are even more inspirational nurse quotes for you

“Never congratulate a doctor for the fast recovery of a patient.” Raheel Farooq

“The simple act of caring is heroic.” Edward Albert

“I’m a nurse. I help sick people. I mostly help the people who are already dying, trying to make their last days comfortable.” Delilah S. Dawson

“Before you diagnose any sickness, make sure there is no sickness in the mind or heart. For the emotions in a man’s moon or sun, can point to the sickness in any one of his other parts.” Suzy Kassem

“Was it not all a dead-end occupation, nursing back to health men to be patched up and returned to the trenches, or a man to be patched up, court-martialled, and shot? The difference lay in the Ideal.” Ellen N. La Motte

“The life so short, the craft so long to learn.” Hippocrates

“As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.” Hippocrates

“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.” Tia Walker

“Nurses: one of the few blessings of being ill.” Sara Moss-Wolfe

“Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their greatest strength and fatal flaw.” Dr. Jean Watson

“The worst thing about working as a caregiver is not what you might think. It’s not the lifting and cleaning, the medicines and wipes, and the distant but somehow always perceptible smell of disinfectant. It’s not even the fact that most people assume you’re only doing it because you really aren’t smart enough to do anything else. It’s the fact that when you spend all day in proximity to someone, there is no escape from their moods. Or your own.” Jojo Moyes

“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” Emory Austin

“Caregivers had to take care of themselves, and part of that meant having a life beyond whatever illness had put them in their cole.” J.R. Ward

“Nurses encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken” Myrtle Aydelotte

“Affirmations are our mental vitamins, providing the supplementary positive thoughts we need to balance the barrage of negative events and thoughts we experience daily.” Tia Walker

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty – it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.” Mother Teresa

“Time, that aged nurse, rocked me to patience.” John Keats

“You can do anything, but not everything.” David Allen

“Hope requires waiting. Waiting requires patience.” Sharon Weil

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the things which you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Everyone has creative potential. Creativity involves using your imagination and inventiveness. Your unique expression of yourself is your creativity… Creativity can be magic when visiting people who are ill.” Patch Adams

“One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.” Jim Rohn

“It’s true that laughter really is cheap medicine. It’s a prescription anyone can afford. And best of all, you can fill it right now.” Steve Goodier

“In fact the English nurses had spent much of their time stuffing mattresses, stirring gruel, and standing at washtubs, but Lib didn’t want the nun to mistake her for an ignorant menial. That was what nobody understood: saving lives often came down to getting a latrine pipe unplugged.” Emma Donoghue

“The world is come upon me, I used to keep it a long way off, but now I have been run over and I am in the hands of the hospital staff.” Stevie Smith

“Hospitals should be arranged in such a way as to make being sick an interesting experience. One learns a great deal sometimes from being sick. „ Alan Wilson Watts

“You can’t change laws without first changing human nature.” Nurse Greta

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.” Voltaire

I hope you enjoyed this collection of nurse quotes.

If you happen to know a nurse, let her know how much of an impact she has on the world. Being a nurse is such a difficult job but that the same time they definitely help to make this world a much better place. Reason enough to thank them or even give them a nice hug for everything they did for you or your loved ones. And if you are a nurse yourself, thank you so much for everything.

Stay victorious!

About Author

Steve is the founder of Planet of Success , the #1 choice when it comes to motivation, self-growth and empowerment. This world does not need followers. What it needs is people who stand in their own sovereignty. Join us in the quest to live life to the fullest!

Related Posts

104 rain quotes to make you dance in the rain, 112 bob ross quotes about life’s happy accidents, 100 legendary rapper quotes from hip-hop’s hall of fame, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Quotes About Death

30+ Touching Quotes About Nursing & Nursing School

Updated 09/13/2022

Published 02/3/2020

Cassie Barthuly, BA in English

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Anyone who’s gone through nursing school can agree that it takes a lot of grace, knowledge, and humor to make it. 

Jump ahead to these sections:

Motivational nursing school quotes, funny nursing quotes, inspirational nursing quotes, nursing quotes about hospice or end-of-life care.

• Quotes from Florence Nightengale on Nursing

NICU Nursing Quotes

Whether you need a little motivation for yourself or want to pass a few laughs to a loved one, here are some must-read nursing quotes. 

These quotes will give you the motivation you need to power through the next exam or shift. 

1.”It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” — E. E. Cummings, Poet 

Choosing the career that’s right for you means knowing your strengths so you can become who you’re meant to be. 

2. “Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their biggest strength and fatal flaw.” — Dr. Jean Watson, nurse Theorist and professor

Nurses must care for other people — which makes them excellent… well, nurses! 

3. “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” — Dr. William Osler, Canadian Physician and Founder of Johns Hopkins

All the healthcare books in the world can’t teach compassion — nurses must naturally have it inside themselves. 

4. “The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” — Carolyn Jarvis, Professor of Nursing at Illinois Wesleyan

Knowledge isn’t everything — character and empathy are so important, too.

5. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Thomas Edison, Inventor

Edison is living proof that success can be just right around the corner!

A little humor provides some powerful inspiration. Here are some nursing quotes to make you laugh.

6. “How can anybody hate nurses? Nobody hates nurses. The only time you hate a nurse is when they’re giving you an enema.” — Warren Beatty, Actor

Nurses can be on the receiving end of certain negative comments — especially when patients are on the cranky side!

7. “Nursing is not a career… it’s a post-apocalyptic survival skill.” — Unknown

Most days, nursing feels like their career is a little bit of both. 

8. “Nursing school is a lot like giving birth… once it’s over, you just tend to forget just how painful the process really was.” — Unknown

You might not forget the all-nighters and cramming for finals — but looking back on it, wasn’t it fun?

9. “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” — Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish Diplomat and Economist

Practicing medicine isn’t all high-drama operations like you see on TV. Caring for patients usually involves a lot of mundane work. 

10. “I love being a nurse, but I mostly love wearing scrubs. They’re basically professional pajamas.” — Unknown

Ahhh, being able to wear scrubs adds the ultimate comfort factor.

A little inspiration might be all you need, so here are some quotes that’ll make you feel good. 

11.“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.” — Les Brown, Author

Nurses choose nursing as a career because they’re passionate about the profession — and passion can open so many doors.

12. “Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job every day while we are just doing our jobs.” — Christine Belle, Nurse

There’s no “ordinary day” for a nurse. Each day can be an emotional rollercoaster and experiencing this sort of career is a rare gift. 

13. “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” — Chinese proverb 

Nobody can take away your education — that’s the one thing that you can keep all to yourself. 

14. “It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly.” — Stephen Ambrose, Author

You may remember Ambrose’s name from high school English class. He wrote “The Red Badge of Courage” about the Civil War.

15. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou, Author

Your loved one might feel as if he or she doesn’t have what it takes to be a nurse. But “defeat” and “being defeated” are two very different things. 

Working in hospice care is all about comfort until the end. That’s a challenging role, particularly because these patients won’t get better. 

16.“A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope.” — Carrie Latet, Author

Nurses bring hope when it doesn’t seem like there’s any left.

17. “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.” — Clara Barton, Nurse

Clara Barton was the founder of the American Red Cross. 

18. “Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” — Aristotle, Philosopher

Wise words! Is it any wonder Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers of all time?

19. “It's not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts.” — Mother Teresa, Activist

For many patients experiencing end-of-life care, all nurses can do is be as attentive as possible to everyone in the family. 

20.  “When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don’t remember me nor I them, but I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind that is my career in nursing.” — Donna Wilk Cardillo, Nurse

Each patient carries a piece of this gorgeous tapestry. 

Quotes from Florence Nightingale on Nursing

Nightingale is often referred to as the mother of nursing. Nightingale came to prominence as manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, where she cared for wounded soldiers.

21. “Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said the finest of fine arts.” — Florence Nightingale, Nurse

Nightingale’s nickname was “Lady with the Lamp,” because she attended to her patients during all hours. 

22. “Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion. Remember he is face-to-face with his enemy all the time.” — Florence Nightingale, Nurse

Nurses deal with tough patients all the time, but patients aren’t always just difficult to be difficult. They’re fighting big battles of their own. 

23. “No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this — devoted and obedient. This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse. It would not do for a policeman.” — Florence Nightingale, Nurse

In some ways, nurses get to shape their roles to what they want them to be.

24. “So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself.” — Florence Nightingale, Nurse

The mustard seed is a parable in the Bible — it represents the growth of the kingdom of God from small beginnings. 

25. “Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” — Florence Nightingale, Nurse

That quote says it all.

The NICU is one of the toughest, most rewarding places to be, and nurses are usually the busiest people in the NICU.

26. “A nurse dispenses comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” — Val Saintsbury, Author

So many illnesses require a prescription to heal. Simple empathy and decency don’t require that! 

27.  “Life is a gift and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” — Tony Robbins, Author

There are so many good things in life, and nursing is an opportunity to pass them along to the next person. 

28.  “You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win — no matter the outcome.” — Robin Williams as “Patch Adams”

Nurses can count every treatment as a win if they treat each patient the best way they possibly can — as a person. 

29.  “Much of life isn’t fair. It’s how you live that matters. It’s how you deal with the bumps in the road.” — Maya Banks, Author

Nurses handle more than their fair share of bumps in the road in their professional careers. 

30. “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” — Rawsi Williams, Lawyer

Nurses are some of the most special people on earth. 

Support a Nurse 

Your own words might not feel like enough. If a loved one is going through a tough time or just needs a little encouragement, quotes are helpful. Tuck them in a card or send a simple text. Nurses do it all — they help people start end-of-life planning and deliver a new baby. 

Each day is its own challenge, so a little encouragement is more than welcome.

Want to learn more about how you can thank a nurse in your life? Read our guide on the best nursing graduation gifts  and National School Nurses Day .

• Nightingale College. “17 Nursing Quotes We Love and Wanted to Share with Nursing Learners.” n.d., nightingale.edu/blog/17-nursing-quotes-love/
• Chamberlain University. “Top 10 Quotes for Nurses.” 10 August 2012, www.chamberlain.edu/blog/top-10-quotes-for-nurses
• Roseman University. “14 Inspiring Quotes for Nursing Students.” 19 September 2013, acceleratednursing.roseman.edu/blog/inspiring-quotes-for-nursing-students/
• Fortis University. “4 Inspirational Quotes that Nurses Value.” 08 March 2014, www.fortis.edu/blog/nursing/4-inspirational-quotes-that-nurses-value.html
• Advent Health University. “8 Inspirational Quotes About Nurses.” 20 June 2017, online.ahu.edu/blog/8-inspirational-quotes-nurses/

Categories:

You may also like.

80+ Short, Comforting Quotes to Share During Hard Times

40+ Encouraging Quotes to Share With a Loved One

55+ Famous Quotes About Self-Reflection

110+ Inspiring Quotes About Graduation for 2022 Grads

Hospice Quotes from the Samaritan Care Team

But, how do these hospice team members feel about their jobs?

We asked our staff members two questions:

Why do you enjoy working in hospice? What do you find rewarding about your work?

The following are hospice quotes from nurses, social workers, spiritual support counselors, and certified home health aides about the care they provide to seriously ill patients and their families.

Building Relationships, Honoring Legacies

For many hospice team members, building relationships and connecting spiritually and emotionally with patients and their families during this difficult time is professionally and personally rewarding.

Chaplain Betty Warner, BCC, BCCC, CFHPC: “In my work as a hospice chaplain, I am privileged to relate to clock-time and heart-time in special ways. I sense that daily—perhaps hourly– I am invited to “touch eternity” and to open the eyes, ears, and minds of persons experiencing life-limiting illness and their loved ones to some very Big Ideas—of Presence, Time, Love, Legacy.”  Betty has been a spiritual support counselor at Samaritan for more than 13 years.

Rabbi Richard Simon, SSC adds, “I always feel strange when I tell people I love my work with hospice. How can you love such difficult work? But working for hospice is both an awesome responsibility and a great honor. We get to meet with patients and family at their most vulnerable and serious times — facing the end of life and what the future may hold for those still here.

For me, as a life-long student of humanity and existence, it affords an opportunity to examine my own inner workings and relationships with others. It affords an opportunity to practice open heartedness and caring in the face of sadness and loss.

In Jewish tradition, providing support for the dying is considered one of the most selfless of deeds, for they cannot give you anything in return. Also, we are encouraged to witness as a person passes from this life to the next, to reflect in awe at this change of being. I am fortunate to work with people who share a true concern for the living and the dying, who make the care and comfort of others the prime issue.”  Richard has been a spiritual support counselor at Samaritan for two years.

Collaborating with Experts

As the hospice quotes below demonstrate, for some hospice staff, collaborating with their colleagues to provide the best possible care is a satisfying part of their job.

Lynn Luisi , CHHA , certified home health aide says, “: …and working with an awesome team of people makes it so easy. Lynn has been a certified home health aide at Samaritan for more than 12 years.

Making a Difference

Hospice employees also enjoy their work because they know they are making a difference in the lives of families living in their community.

Lynn adds, “I wake up each day knowing I make a difference in so many people’s lives . . . I not only have a job/career, I have a higher purpose in life and I’m truly grateful. I’m part of a bigger picture in life now.

Honoring Your Loved Ones

Many hospice team members were touched by a hospice experience earlier in their lives and decided to explore the field of end-of-life care. It’s their way of giving back after receiving exceptional comfort care for their loved one as some of the hospice care quotes below beautifully express.

Karen Pericles, LMT : “In 1995, my mother died on hospice in Michigan.  In 2001, I became a massage therapist and had been operating my own massage business for four years when I saw an employment ad for Samaritan. I told my husband, Gerry, that I wanted to apply. He thought I was crazy. He didn’t understand who would want to work with people who were dying.  I knew how wonderful hospice had been to my parents a decade earlier, so I had to apply.  I got the job!

In 2007, we found out that my husband had lung cancer, and shortly thereafter, that it had spread to his brain. He was able to receive the comfort care hospice provides patients and families. I always think God chose Samaritan for me.” Karen has worked at Samaritan as a massage therapist for more than 13 years.

In preparing for the interview {at Samaritan}, I recalled that at age 15, my grandmother had died in a hospice unit, and I had been there when she died and how peaceful it was. When I met with {the social work manager}, I knew immediately that this position was for me! Colleen has worked at Samaritan as a social worker for more than six years.”

To learn more about hospice nurse quotes, as well as our hospice services, please call (800) 229-8183 or fill out this online form .

66 Inspirational Nurse Quotes to Lift Your Mood

Inspirational nurse quotes have the power to inspire, educate and transform how nurses are seen in healthcare.

It also impacts how nurses perceive their role in providing exceptional patient care.

Hopefully, these Inspiring quotes created by nurses, for nurses, and inspired by nurses help get you through the day!

Nurses are the hospitality of the hospital. Carrie Latet

Caring is the essence of nursing. Jean Watson

To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can, in spite of all we go through; is to be a nurse. Rawsi Williams

The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest. William Osler

Nurses dispense comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription. Val Saintsbury

The character of a nurse is just as important as the knowledge he/she possesses. Carolyn Jarvis

Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion. Florence Nightingale

Save one life and you’re a hero, save one hundred lives and you’re a nurse Unknown

I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them. Clara Barton

America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system. Barack Obama

It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly. Stephen Ambrose

Nursing would be a dream job if there were no doctors. Gerhard Kocher

Nurses, one of the few blessings of being ill. Sara Moss-Wolfe

Nurses are the heart of healthcare. Donna Wilk Cardillo

Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon. Dag Hammarskjold

Some people think that doctors and nurses can put scrambled eggs back in the shell . Cass Canfield

How can anybody hate nurses? Nobody hates nurses. The only time you hate a nurse is when they’re giving you an enema. Warren Beatty

When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don’t remember me nor I them, but I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind that is my career in nursing. Donna Wilk Cardillo

A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope. Carrie Latet

Drugs are not always necessary, belief in recovery always is. Norman Cousins

Medicine sometimes snatches away health, sometimes gives it. Ovid

A nurse is compassion in scrubs Lexie Saige

Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse. Elizabeth Kenny

Nurses may not be angels, but they are the next best thing! Unknown

Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring. Sharon Hudacek

Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are “just doing our jobs”. Christine Belle

Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, to help. Christina Feist-Heilmeier

Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said ‘the finest of fine arts. Florence Nightingale

You treat a disease: you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win, no matter the outcome. Robin Williams

Nurses are angels in comfortable shoes! Unknown

No matter how difficult the days may get, don’t forget the reason you became a nurse. Unknown

Every nurse has that one patient they’ll remember forever! Unknown

I attribute success to this: I never gave or took any excuse. Florence Nightingale

I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions, which bring results. Florence Nightingale

Okay, “tell me exactly what happened”, is not the same as, “tell me your life story”. Unknown

Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death. Christine Belle

When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours. Unknown

Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts. Charles Dickens

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Gandhi

Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives. Florence Nightingale

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Mother Teresa

Nurses. One of the few blessings of being ill. Sara Moss-Wolfe

Be the nurse you would want as a patient. Unknown

Not all angels have wings. some have scrubs. Unknown

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nothing will work unless you do. Maya Angelou

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. Chinese proverb

Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation. Aristotle

If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone. John Maxwell

May your scrubs be comfy, your coffee be strong, and your Monday be short. Unknown

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. Earl Nightingale

When you feel like quitting, remember why you started. Unknown

I’ve come to the realization that I’ll touch anything as long as I have gloves on. Unknown

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a small, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment of the smallest act of caring. All of which have the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia

Nursing friendships are a different kind of friendship. Like, I’ll hold the butt cheeks while you clean the butt crack kind of friendship. Unknown

Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges, with for more wisdom. Earl Shoaf

The three words most people want to hear is, “I love you”. The three words most nurses want to hear is, “Alert, Oriented, and Ambulatory”. Unknown

Nursing is a progressive art, such that to stand still is to go backwards. Florence Nightingale

Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle. Plato

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing. Mother Teresa

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day. H. Jackson Brown jr.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela

Nursing is an art. And if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter’s or sculptor’s work. Florence Nightingale

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. William Shakespeare

Being a nurse means to hold your own tears and start drawing smiles on peoples faces. Dana Basem

Being a nurse is exhausting. However, the knowledge and power to help heal others keep them going in challenging times. While nurses are strong-spirited, positive, and focused even, they need a little pick me up every once in a while.

The Value of Inspirational Nurse Quotes

Nurses spend their entire shifts providing exceptional care to patients requiring medical assistance. They offer patients emotional support, bedside aid, and education to enable them to recover and make better lifestyle choices.

They also help the patient’s families by offering emotional support, keeping them updated, and answering important questions. As a result, nurses often engage in meaningful work that few careers offer.

Healthcare work and direct patient care can be stressful, challenging, and exhausting. Not every patient or family member understands the challenges nurses face or appreciates their hard work.

Some patients are eternally grateful for their help. Unfortunately, others may have unrealistic expectations or don’t understand what nurses go through daily.

Many nurses experience stress, burnout, and exhaustion from work overload or management challenges. As a result, they must keep a positive attitude and remain focused on their purpose.

Inspiring nurse quotes provide friendly members of why nurses took the oath to become healthcare workers. It also gives students a reason to pursue the healthcare profession and stay on track when nursing school gets hard.

Not every day is going to be positive, exciting, or motivating. Some days may even cause nurses to question their long-term interest in this profession. 

Everyone needs a pick me up at times when work becomes challenging to manage daily. Therefore, keeping inspiring nurse quotes nearby is highly beneficial to maintaining a balanced mind, attitude, and outlook on work, education, and life.

Additional Resources:

• Funny Nurse Quotes
• Pinterest: Nurse Quotes

Hospice Quotes: Comforting Insights for Difficult Times

Hospice care is a crucial part of many people’s end-of-life journey, providing hope, inspiration, and comfort during challenging times. As you navigate this journey, you may look for words of wisdom and encouragement that resonate with you and your loved ones, allowing you to find purpose and maintain a high quality of life. Hospice quotes are a meaningful way to spark these emotions and enrich your understanding of the importance of empathy, compassion, and support during the final stages of life.

Table of Contents

Quote List 1 – 25

In this section, you’ll find a collection of hospice quotes that touch on love, compassion, strength, and courage. These quotes come from famous individuals such as Maya Angelou, Abraham Lincoln, Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, and C.S. Lewis. Let these quotes inspire and comfort you during challenging times.

• “Hospice is a gentle embrace during life’s final moments.” source
• “Hospice is a reminder that we are never alone in our pain.” source
• “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me.” – Lisa Goich-Andreadis
• “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

In addition to providing insight, these quotes also serve as reminders of the love and support that surrounds you during this time.

• “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” – Dalai Lama
• “Your journey has touched countless lives; your spirit will forever live on.” source
• “Let the memories of love and laughter carry you gently into the next chapter.” source
• “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa
• “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

These quotes highlight the importance of compassion and understanding during difficult times.

• “It is through our experience of the impermanence of life that we can begin to appreciate that which is timeless.” – Unknown
• “Suffering is a means of creating space for spiritual growth.” – Mother Teresa
• “To be content with little is difficult; to be content with much, impossible.” – Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
• “The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.” – Auguste Rodin

When you need strength and courage, let these quotes serve as reminders of your resilience and the power of the human spirit.

• “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon
• “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
• “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” – C.C. Scott
• “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

Embrace these powerful words to lift your spirits and remind you of the love, compassion, and strength that exists within you and those who surround you.

• “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” – Irish Proverb
• “Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles. Notice them.” – Mike Greenberg
• “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
• “Where there is love, there is life.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “In the depths of sorrow, we often find our truest strength.” – Unknown

Quote List 26 – 50

In this section, Quote List 26 – 50 you will find a selection of inspiring quotes about hospice, covering a range of topics including family, support, relationships, presence, understanding, heart, legacy, nurses, hospice nurse, and faith. These quotes have been carefully selected to provide you with a source of comfort, strength, and inspiration during difficult times.

Remembering the love and dedication of hospice nurses, who guide us through this journey with an open heart.

Your legacy will be carried forward by the many lives you’ve touched, and your memory will be cherished by those who saw your kindness and understood your pain.

In those quiet moments of closeness and understanding, families find solace as they support each other through the hospice experience.

In the hospice journey, it’s the relationships that enrich our lives and bring us together as we face our most vulnerable moments.

When faith becomes the cornerstone of our strength, we can face the uncertainties of hospice with courage and hope.

Use these inspiring hospice quotes as a reminder that you are never alone during this challenging time, and that there are many who have walked this path before you, finding strength and resilience within themselves. Remember that the support and presence of your loved ones, as well as the skilled and compassionate care of hospice nurses, will be with you every step of the way.

Quote List 51 – 75

Here are some hospice quotes you may find meaningful, which focus on embodying the emotions of pain, loss, grief , suffering, solace, memories, healing , gratitude, reflection, and empathy. Remember to take the time to let these powerful and comforting quotes resonate with you during difficult moments.

In the face of pain, find the strength to endure and cherish the lessons learned. The journey through suffering can offer profound insight on the human spirit.

Loss opens the door to healing and gratitude. Despite the heartache, there is always love to be found.

Hold onto the memories that make you smile, for they are the keys to easing your grief. Reliving moments of joy softens the ache of loss.

When the weight of suffering becomes too much to bear, remember that a helping hand is always extended. Embrace the support and empathy from others when you need it most.

Find solace in knowing that all emotions are fleeting. Pain and sorrow will eventually give way to peace.

Healing is not linear; progress can be slow and setbacks inevitable. But knowing this, you can be gentle with yourself during the process.

Expressing gratitude in the midst of grief can be transformative. Let your appreciation for life and love guide you through the darkness.

Take moments of reflection to find solace and strength. In quiet contemplation, you may discover resiliency within.

A heart filled with empathy is a beacon of hope in times of suffering. Seek support from those who can truly understand your pain.

Grief carries a unique lesson for each person struggling with loss. Take the time to uncover and embrace your journey’s wisdom.

Even in great suffering, find moments to smile and laugh. These brief instances of joy bring light to the darkness.

Your journey through grief can be a powerful lesson in empathy. Caring for others as they mourn will bring healing and compassion to your own soul.

Memories, like rain that nourishes the parched earth, reawaken the heart in times of grief. Reflect on the love shared, the laughter enjoyed, and the moments spent together.

Do not fear loss, for it is simply another chapter in the great story of life. Embrace it with courage and hope for what is to come.

Connecting with others is essential in healing from grief. Share your memories and seek comfort in the shared experiences.

Strength can be found in moments of solitude. Solace during the journey of grief can appear in the quiet spaces.

Hold close the gratitude you feel for the time you had together. As you mourn, take time to appreciate the memories, love, and bond.

Facing your grief mirrors the reflections of the healing process. Acknowledge your pain and seek opportunities for growth.

Suffering is universal, but every person has their own path. Remember that you are strong enough to endure your journey.

As you heal, extend your own empathy to others who need it. By offering help and compassion, you bring comfort to yourself.

Solace can be discovered by cherishing the beauty in each day. Embrace the moments of peace amid the chaos.

When words fail to express your grief, turn to the warmth of memories. Draw solace from the love that lives in every precious moment.

The act of remembering transcends time, offering healing to both the past and present. Honor your memories and let them guide you toward healing.

Take heart in the knowledge that you are not alone in your struggle. Find comfort in the empathy of others and the resilience within you.

As you grow through your journey of pain and loss, remember that love never truly dies. Hold your cherished memories close and let your love for them continue to shine.

Quote List 76 – 100

Here is a selection of poignant hospice quotes that convey grace, hope, and comfort during the end of life journey. These quotes offer insight into the philosophy and importance of hospice care, palliative care, and aging, as well as the beauty and strength found in the process of saying goodbye .

76. “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life.” Dame Cicely Saunders

77. “In the stillness of this moment, find peace and solace within yourself.” Unknown

78. “Your journey has touched countless lives; your spirit will forever live on.” Unknown

79. “Let the memories of love and laughter carry you gently into the next chapter.” Unknown

80. “Hospice is a reminder that love never dies .” Unknown

81. “Hospice brings comfort in the midst of uncertainty.” Unknown

82. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln

83. “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” Oliver Goldsmith

84. “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” David Bowie

85. “I wonder if my first breath was as soul-stirring to my mother as her last breath was to me.” Lisa Goich-Andreadis

86. – 100. Keep exploring quotes on your own and discover more profound words that resonate with you, provide comfort during final moments, and serve as a reminder of the power of both rest and grace in the face of death. Sharing these quotes can be a beacon of hope and a heartfelt goodbye to those in hospice care.

Living With Hospice

When you are living with hospice, it can be helpful to reflect on quotes that emphasize the importance of assessment and plan of care. Here are some examples:

• It is in the quiet moments of assessment that we find the strength to care for ourselves and others (link)
• The journey of caregiving starts with a well-thought plan of care, and ends with the comfort of knowing we’ve done our best (link)

Challenges and tears go hand in hand when dealing with hospice care, but they can bring invaluable life lessons. Consider these quotes:

• In the face of challenges, we find the resilience to overcome and grow (link)
• Tears are the silent language of grief, but also the pathway to healing and personal growth (link)

The elderly in hospice care can benefit from the support of counselors, who help navigate emotions and facilitate connections:

• A compassionate counselor can ease the burdens of the heart and facilitate meaningful connections with our loved ones (link)
• In the tender moments shared with counselors, we find solace and the courage to be vulnerable (link)

Self-care, organization, and being comfortable are key aspects of navigating hospice care. Reflect on these quotes:

• Embrace self-care and intention – these are the cornerstones of a fulfilling life, even in the face of adversity (link)
• Organization paves the way for a smoother hospice journey, allowing us to focus on what truly matters (link)
• Being comfortable in our own vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength that allows us to heal and grow (link)

Lastly, consider the importance of addressing sexual health matters, even when facing end-of-life care:

• Acknowledging and addressing our sexual health needs during hospice care can enhance our quality of life and foster lasting connections (link)

Similar Posts

Friday Quotes: Uplifting Words to Kickstart Your Weekend

Shares Pinterest Facebook Twitter reddit Everyone loves that feeling when Friday arrives, signaling the end of a long workweek and…

Excuses Quotes: Inspiring Words to Overcome Procrastination

nullFeeling stuck in a cycle of excuses? Get motivated with these inspiring quotes to kick procrastination to the curb. Click to overcome!”

1 Month Baby Boy Quotes: Celebrating Your Little One’s Milestone

Shares Pinterest Facebook Twitter reddit Celebrating your baby boy’s first month is a joyous occasion, filled with love, wonder, and…

Treasure Quotes: Inspiring Words for Life’s Greatest Treasures

Discover the most inspiring treasure quotes that will remind you of life’s greatest treasures. Click to read and find your daily dose of motivation!

1st Birthday Quotes for Daughter: Heartwarming Expressions for Your Little Princess

Shares Pinterest Facebook Twitter reddit Celebrating your precious daughter’s 1st birthday is a special occasion filled with joy and love….

99+ Karma Quotes: Inspiring Words to Live By

Shares Pinterest Facebook Twitter reddit Karma is a fascinating concept that can truly shape the way you view your life…

Pin It on Pinterest

Share this post with your friends or pin this for later on Pinterest!

Share this post with your friends!

80 Nurse Quotes to Inspire, Motivate, and Humor Nurses

Need some inspiration? Enjoy these inspirational nurse quotes written by famous nursing personalities and that ever famous “anonymous”. Take time to read and experience the potential and influence of nursing through these inspirational and funny nursing quotes ! Sometimes, all we need is a little dose of inspiration to keep rolling.

There is no doubt that Nursing is still one of the most inspiring and fulfilling careers ever created. However, we also know that some of us do not feel fulfilled being a nurse all day at work. Discouragement, disappointment, failure, and setbacks—these are all things that we have to deal with at some points in our lives.

Working as a nurse means signing up to a life that barely pauses. While nurses are strong and hopeful people, challenging times frequent and nurses find themselves exhausted and needing encouragements to pick them up.

Read on to experience the influence of nursing through these inspirational nurse quotes . But remember, they mean nothing without actions and progress.

Little Things and Their Huge Impacts

Feeling small, stagnant, and irrelevant? If you feel like what you are contributing to this world is not significant, remember that your work as a nurse is essential in making this world feel like home especially for people needing refuge.

For every shoulder tap that you have made, a person’s confidence is fuelled. For every smile you gave, another heart did a backward somersault of reassurance. For a kind word and a listening ear, another soul felt understood and validated. Imagine the magnitude of your work if you continue and meet more people. In this world where doubts cripple hopes and dreams, your smallest act of caring provides an avenue for the breakthrough of people’s decision in reaching their fullest potential.

Still feeling small? Continue reading.

You Were Called

Oftentimes we hear that nursing is more of a calling than a profession. As nursing students, we don’t realize the weight of this statement. But as we go through our nursing journey, pieces stick themselves together, and we realize this probably might be true to some extent. We were called into this mission.

For some reasons, if you feel like this is not the place where you will bloom, consider thinking that even your destiny was set for you to be a nurse. Spend some time considering this thought because a heart where the caring seed was planted will always find a field where it can spread its yield.

A Warm Invitation to Care for the Sick

Even before nurses’ touch soothe the sick, the sight of nurses in comfortable scrubs or in white uniforms create a sense of warmth that enveloped the weary, anxious , and grieving .  This communicates assurance that they will be given attention, listened to, and be cared for like family. Having this effect on people is something that is extremely important in times of crises. Would you wish for a superpower other than this?

Nurse Quote for Student Nurses

Nursing involves technical skills. On top of that, you have to master a lot of health concepts to be an effective nurse. If you are a novice nurse and have recently made mistakes that cost you a fractured self-esteem , remember that every expert started off with foolish mistakes which shaped them into who they are now. You will be like them eventually if you continue despite your doubts and weaknesses. You will grow if you just hang on. Don’t deprive yourself of a chance to be better!

Don’t Feel Special Enough?

The founder of modern nursing has got something big to say to nurses out there who feel they are not special enough. If this does not make you feel like you were born with great skills and talent, we might need a battalion of nurse theorists to convince that who you are and what you do matter. You are important and you are needed.

Comfort for the Belittled

Snide remarks about how nurses are regarded as ‘just nurses’ or ‘doctors’ assistants’ may never escape stereotypes. However, it is what you do to help your patients that should matter. It should be enough to keep you big and glowing.

Take time to sit with people and explain what it is that you do and you get surprised looks from them. They don’t know how nurses miss family occasions because more people need them to be at the hospital. They don’t know the number of times we have sacrificed meals just because someone out there needs more urgent nourishment. They don’t know how we became families for those who were left neglected in hospital beds. We do all of these and so much more while we document, refer, and monitor the technical aspects of health.

So the next time someone belittled you, wear your title proudly and dismiss it with a shrug of your shoulders . Ignorant remarks should be left rolling at your back and stomped on by other nurses who continue to march for the profession despite being not celebrated.

No Capes But Excellent Lifesavers

Nurses are trained to think quickly and act accurately. This makes nurses the people’s superheroes. As one quote says, God gathered the strongest men and women and made them nurses. You can swell with love and pride now.

Nurse Quote on loving your craft

Find it in your heart to continuously reflect on your journey as a nurse. It is completely normal to have doubts and change of heart but don’t give up the nursing profession without some heavy thinking. You are allowed to pause and break down but never forget to find reasons why you should hold on tight to your craft.

For All the Healthcare Workers

To all our healthcare workers fighting this pandemic , we honor you!

Duchess of Cambridge on Nurses

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge,  praised nurses  at the launch of the Nursing Now campaign.

Pope Francis’ Appreciation for Nurses

His Holiness Pope Francis, addressing a  meeting of nurses :

Genuinely Supporting Nurses this Pandemic

How to truly support nurses this pandemic .

Another Hilarious Nurses Week Quote

It’s true! To survive this profession you need a sick sense of humor.

Nurses: Great Blessings of Humanity

People often think that nursing is just an easier alternative to becoming a doctor. When can we escape from this? Probably not, and that’s beyond our control. But this irrational assumption has proved nothing through the years. It only motivated nurses from showing the world their worth and how much of a difference nursing makes.

No Prescriptions Needed!

Nurses dispense comfort , compassion, and caring without even a prescription. – Val Saintsbury

Making a Difference in Someone’s Life

One of the best nurse quote I’ve read: “When you’re a nurse you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.”

‘Patient’ people, yes we are!

Nurses are patient people. – Author Unknown

Difference every day!

Nurses don’t wait until October to celebrate Make a Difference Day — they make a difference every day! – Author Unknown

Caring: Biggest Strength and Fatal Flaw

Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their biggest strength and fatal flaw. – Dr. Jean Watson

Nurses: Foundation of Healthcare

You don’t build a house without its foundation. You don’t build a hospital without its Nurses. – Anonymous

Nursing Through Lifetimes

You’re going to be there when a lot of people are born, and when a lot of people die. In most every culture, such moments are regarded as sacred and private, made special by a divine presence. No one on Earth would be welcomed, but you’re personally invited. What an honor that is. – Thom Dick

They’ll never forget how you made them feel

As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

The beginning of practice

Diagnosis is not the end, but the beginning of practice. – Martin H. Fischer

Art and Science of Nursing

Nursing is not just an ART, it has a heART. Nursing is not just a SCIENCE, but it has a conSCIENCE – Anonymous

Nursing is not for everyone

Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet. No wonder we’re exhausted at the end of the day! – Donna Wilk Cardillo

Angel with a stethoscope

A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope . – Terri Guillemets

Loving your work

It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing. – Mother Teresa

Nurse in charge

If you are a nurse, then you should wear the title with pride. Not many people are capable of doing what you do, and even fewer are capable of doing it with the charisma and passion you do it with.

Nurse quote on appreciating nurses

I think this nurse quote is perfect for nurses week ! Sometimes they’re the only one between you and a hearse. – Warren Beatty

Our job is to love people

Our job is to love people. When it hurts. When it’s awkward. When it’s uncool and embarrassing. Our job is to stand together, to carry the burdens of one another and to meet each other in our questions. – Jamie Tworkowksi

A selfless duty

Being a nurse means to hold all your own tears and start drawing smiles on people’s faces. – Dana Basem

Nurses for a healthy community

Every nurse is Angel with a Key for Healthy Community! All in Caring for Patients is part of Nursing Soul! – Aleksandar Radenovi

Nurse quote about love

If love can’t cure it, nurses can. – Unknown

Frontliners of health care

Nurses serve their patients in the most important capacities. We know that they serve as our first lines of communication when something goes wrong or when we are concerned about health. – Lois Capps

Treat a person

You treat a disease: You win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome. – Patch Adams

Nurse quote on the role of nurses

Nurses have come a long way in a few short decades. In the past our attention focused on physical, mental and emotional healing. Now we talk of healing your life, healing the environment, and healing the planet. – Lynn Keegan

Nurse Quote by Florence Nightingale

Just always remember that we, nurses, are unique. We have the power to promote comfort and relieve strife. Many times we are gifted with the privilege of seeing rapid results of our caring actions. The true benefits of nursing are felt in our minds and hearts. No matter how hard we try, only a nurse can truly understand and appreciate the magnitude of our job.

Nurse Quote on Male or Female Nurses

Whether a person is a male or female, a nurse is a nurse. – Gary Veale

Teamwork in nursing

Sometimes I wipe bottoms, often I give meds, but that isn’t the extent of what I do. There are people above me and people below. I work closely with both, without them, I could not do what I do well. – Kateri Allard, RN , BSN

Nurse quote on suffering

As nurses we know suffering. We are fully aware of how precious each moment of life is. – Patricia Bratianu, PhD, RN, RH-AHG

Helping People

Nurses help people. And in doing so, we receive the unmatched satisfaction of knowing that we have made a difference to patients and their families. – Dawn Marino, RN, BSN, HNB-BC

The Micro and Macro Power of Nursing

The longer I’m in the profession, the more experiences shape my life, the more amazing colleagues influence me, the more I see the micro and macro power of nursing. – Joni Watson, MBA, MSN, RN, OCN

Nurse quote on nurses making a difference

Nursing is great for so many reasons, but there is one reason that means more than any poll results, amount of money, or job security: Nurses make a difference. – Brittney Wilson, RN, BSN @ thenerdynurse.com

Patient with Patients

Be patient with patients who are not patient.

Be a Great Colleague!

Be the type of nurse you want to work with.

Cute and Skilled

Nurses: Cute enough to stop your heart, skilled enough to restart it!

Definition of a Nurse

Definition of a nurse: To go above and beyond the call of duty. The first to work and the last to leave. The heart and soul of caring. A unique soul who will pass through your life for a minute and impact it for an eternity. An empowered individual whom you may meet only for a 12 hour period, but who will put you and yours above theirs. -Anonymous

Funny Nurse Quote

Gotta pass the pills to pay the bills! – Anonymous

I’ll Take Care of You

A life full of demands and responsibilities is practically tied to being a nurse. Dedicated to the care of humanity , nurses spend much of the day coordinating patient care with other members of the health care team while making sure their patients receive high standards of nursing care. This means keeping up and even going beyond measures to facilitate healing and rehabilitation.

Word of Caution

Never do anything you would not want to explain to us, nurses. But we’ll take good care of you regardless! – Anonymous

Nurse Quote on Being Strong and Understanding

Nurse: Just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate everything and soft enough to understand everyone.

Nursing is rarely boring or predictable

Nursing is rarely boring or predictable. In few other professions, we are present at life’s most momentous events, from birth to death , from crisis to recovery. For those who thrive on variety and the full spectrum of human drama, every day brings a range of new situations. – Diane Barnet, RN

Nurse: Your guardian during your weakest times

The nurse is temporarily the consciousness of the unconscious, the love of life for the suicidal, the leg of the amputee , the eyes of the newly blind, a means of locomotion for the infant, the knowledge and confidence of the young mother, and a voice for those too weak to speak. – Virginia Henderson

Nursing is not glamor and high fashion

Being a nurse is not all glamor and high fashion, but it is always rewarding. – Anonymous

Caring for people on their weakest moments

Being a nurse isn’t about grades, it’s about being who we are. No book can teach you how to cry with a patient. No class can teach you how to tell their family that their parents have diet or are dying . No professor can teach you how to find dignity in giving someone a bed bath . A nurse is not about the pills or charting . It’s about being able to love people when they are at their weakest moments. – Anonymous

Career and Passion

It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. – Anonymous

Nurse Quotes for Nurse Heroes

Save one life you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives you’re a nurse. -Unknown

Nursing quote on passion

“..the hours are long, the work hard, and the pay inadequate to the amount of concentrated energy required. A nurse, however, does not view her profession dispassionately. It is too much a part of her.” – Monica Dickens

Nursing Care be There!

Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon. – Dag Hammarskjold

Florence Nightingale Quote

Nursing is an art… It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts. – Florence Nightingale

The Heart of Healthcare

Nurses are the heart of healthcare. – Donna Wilk Cardillo

To All The Patients I’ve Cared Before

When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don’t remember me nor I them. But I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind that is my career in nursing. – Donna Wilk Cardillo

thank u, nurse.

Nurses — one of the few blessings of being ill. – Sara Moss–Wolfe

Nurse quote on forms of nurses

Nursing care comes in many forms. Sometimes it is the ability to make someone feel physically comfortable by various means. Other times it is the ability to improve the body’s ability to achieve or maintain health. But often it is an uncanny yet well honed knack to see beyond the obvious and address, in some way, the deeper needs of the human soul. – Donna Wilk Cardillo

We’d all be worse without a nurse.

Just doing our jobs!

Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the joy everyday, while we are just doing our jobs. – Christine Belle

Nursing, a wonderful profession

To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse. – Rawsi Williams

No excuses!

Motivational nurse quote from Florence Nightingale : I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.

Character of a nurse

The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses. – Carolyn Jarvis

Nurses are miracle workers!

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day. – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Motivational nurse quote

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do. – Helen Keller

Nurse quote on professionalism

As nurses, we have served years of health education, and passed the boards to practice in this profession. We are professionals too, let us act like one. – Liane Clores, RN

Smallest acts of caring

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. – Leo Buscaglia

Leave people better than you found them

Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them. – Marvin J. Ashton

Nursing the planet!

Nurses have come a long way in a few short decades. In the past our attention focused on physical, mental and emotional healing. Now we talk of healing your life, healing the environment, and healing the planet. – Lynn Keegan

Nursing prayer

Let me dedicate my life today to the care of those who come my way. Let me touch each one with a healing hand and the gentle art for which I stand. And then tonight when the day is done, let me rest in peace if I’ve helped just one.

Nursing quote on life and death

Nurses are there when the last breath is taken and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death. – Christine Bell

Clara Barton quote on Nursing

I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them. – Clara Barton

Jean Watson quote on nursing

Caring is the essence of nursing. – Jean Watson

Gladly choose it again

I know I am not alone and I appreciate all of the nurses who work alongside me. Many of them have shaped me into the nurse I am. Someday I will shape others into the nurse they will be. This wasn’t my plan B, it was my plan A, and I would gladly choose it again. – Kateri Allard, RN, BSN

Caring and making a difference

We often think of nursing as giving meds on time, checking an X–ray to see if the doctor needs to be called, or taking an admission at 2:00 a.m. with a smile on our faces. Too often, we forget all the other things that make our job what it truly is: caring and having a desire to make a difference. – Erin Pettengill

Awesome nurses

Hey you, nurse. You’re awesome!

Not all superheroes wear capes!

You’re not just a nurse!

You’re not “just a nurse”. Take pride in what you do. You’re saving lives and making a difference in someone’s life.

Have you enjoyed this collection of inspiring nurse quote? Please feel free to share them to your friends! Make the inspiration viral!

2 thoughts on “80 Nurse Quotes to Inspire, Motivate, and Humor Nurses”

Well done- nursing is all of the above and more. The images & word images touched this RN’s heart. After 50+ years of nursing, I have never regretted my decision-made when I was a second grader- to be a nurse. My generation had fewer choices & I loved teaching also. My teacher’s advice was wise: A teacher can never nurse, but a nurse can always teach. I’ve done both, of course. Like those who took me under wing so many years ago, I am now an encourager for a nursing student. I will let her know about this site.

I like these motivating Quotes about nurse, and keep our power to help people

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Track Order

• Go to Recipients
• Go to Family
• Gift for Moms
• Gifts for Dads
• Gifts for Sisters
• Gift for Grandpa
• Gifts for Grandma
• Gifts for Daughters
• Gifts for Kids
• Gifts for Son
• Other Recipients
• Go to Other Recipients
• Gifts for Best Friends
• Gifts for Couples
• Go to Occasions
• Father's Day
• Mother's Day
• Anniversary
• Grandparent's Day
• Go to Tumbler
• Go to Recipient
• Best Friend
• Go to Topic
• Animal Lover
• Outdoor Activity
• Go to Style
• Photo Tumblers
• Glitter Tumbler
• Coffee Tumbler
• Floral Tumbler
• Tumbler 40oz
• Tumbler 20oz
• Christmas Ornament
• Kid Bedding Set
• Go to Kid Bedding Set
• Bedding Sets Twin
• Bedding Sets Full
• Baby Blanket
• Go to Baby Blanket
• Baby Milestone Blanket
• Water Bottle
• Go to Water Bottle
• Adult Water Bottle
• Kid Water Bottle
• Product Type
• Go to Product Type
• Hawaiian Shirt
• Night Light
• Beach Towel
• Go to Beach Towel
• Adult Beach Towel
• Kid Beach Towel

Inspirational Quotes for Nurses

In the demanding and often challenging world of healthcare, nurses stand as pillars of strength and compassion. This collection of inspirational nurse quotes is a testament to the unwavering dedication and spirit that nurses bring to their profession every day. 

Whether you’re a seasoned nurse needing a reminder of your impact or a new nurse seeking encouragement, these quotes will resonate deeply. They capture the essence of nursing – a blend of skill, care, and human connection that makes a real difference in patients’ lives.  

• “Being a nurse is not just a profession, it’s an identity; it’s not just what one does, but what one is.”
• “Nurses have the sacred role of being present at both the first and last moments of life, opening the eyes of the newborn and closing the eyes of the dying.”
• “The true essence of nursing lies in caring.”
• “The desire to care, serve, or help is what draws individuals into nursing.”
• “Nurses play a vital role in both the joy of birth and the comfort in death.”
• “Trained nurses stand as one of humanity’s greatest blessings, alongside physicians and spiritual guides.”
• “Nurses are the heartbeat of the medical system in America.”
• “Nursing is an art form, possibly the finest of fine arts.”
• “Treating a person, not just the disease, ensures victory regardless of the outcome.”
• “Nurses daily balance the sorrow and joy of life while performing their duties.”
• “Every day, a nurse will impact a life or be impacted by one.”
• “Make everyone you meet feel better and happier.”
• “Not all angels have wings; some are adorned in scrubs.”
• “Never abandon your dreams due to the time they take; time passes regardless.”
• “Forgive your imperfections, show grace and patience on your learning journey.”
• “Being a nurse means doing what others can’t, in a way they can’t, despite all challenges.”
• “Nothing works unless you do.”
• “Remember your initial motivation when considering quitting.”
• “The path may not be easy, but it promises to be rewarding.”
• “It’s a wonderful convergence when your career aligns with your passion.”
• “Developing a passion for learning ensures continual growth.”
• “For a patient, anxiety and uncertainty can be more damaging than physical exertion.”
• “Learning is a valuable treasure that follows you everywhere.”
• “Nurses should continually learn throughout their lives.”
• “Education is a powerful tool for changing the world.”

See More: Celebrating Nursing Excellence on International Nurses Day

Nursing School Quotes

The journey through nursing school is a unique blend of challenges, learning, and growth. As students navigate through lectures, clinical rotations, and exams, they are shaped into the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. 

In this collection, we have gathered a range of nursing school quotes that speak to the heart of this transformative experience. These quotes not only reflect the hard work and determination required but also the passion and commitment that fuel nursing students.  

• “Cherish your work and enhance its value through your actions.”
• “Discover your passion when your purpose is unclear, as it will naturally guide you to your purpose.”
• “Nurses are a rare blessing in times of illness.”
• “Success is making life easier for even one person through your existence.”
• “Often, it’s my patients who inspire me, although sometimes I inspire them.”
• “A nurse embodies strength to endure everything and empathy to understand everyone.”
• “Losing yourself in serving others is the best way to discover who you are.”
• “Strive to be the kind of nurse you would want to have as a patient.”
• “Show kindness to all, as each person you meet is facing their own struggle.”
• “Life’s challenges require perseverance and self-belief, as we all have unique talents to achieve something significant.”
• “Nurses form the core of healthcare.”
• “Life’s meaning lies in discovering your gift and its purpose in giving it away.”
• “A nurse’s character is just as crucial as her knowledge.”
• “A nurse brings hope like an angel equipped with a stethoscope.”
• “True happiness lies in giving and serving others.”
• “Nurses have the power to heal not just physically but also emotionally, leaving a lasting impact on patients.”
• “Maintain a heart that remains compassionate, a spirit that never tires, and a touch that is always gentle.”
• “The unique nature of nurses lies in their relentless desire to care for others, a trait that is both their strongest asset and their Achilles’ heel.”
• “Being a nurse isn’t merely a profession, it’s an identity. I am a nurse, not because of what I do, but because of who I am.”
• “Nurses are present for both the last and the first breaths of life. While celebrating birth is joyful, comforting in death is equally essential.”
• “Winning or losing varies when you treat a disease, but treating a person assures victory regardless of the outcome.”
• “As a nurse, you’ll find that each day brings a chance to impact a life or be touched by one.”
• “To be a nurse is to do what no one else will, in a way no one else can, despite everything we endure.”
• “Often, I find inspiration in my patients, though more frequently, they are the ones who inspire me.”
• “Strive to be the kind of nurse you would wish to have as a patient.”

Motivational Quotes for Nurses 

 Nursing is a profession that demands not just expertise and knowledge, but also a continuous supply of motivation and encouragement. To support this relentless pursuit, we have curated a selection of motivational nurse quotes. 

These quotes are designed to energize and inspire nurses in their day-to-day roles. From handling the pressures of the healthcare environment to providing exceptional care to patients, these words serve as a powerful reminder of the noble mission that nurses undertake.

• “A nurse is like an angel with a stethoscope, always instilling hope.”
• “As nurses, we have the chance to heal not just the body, but also the mind, soul, and heart of our patients. They might forget our names, but the way we made them feel will always stay with them.”
• “Focus on treating the patient as a whole, not just the ailment they have.”
• “Doctors may diagnose, but healing is the realm of nurses.”
• “A significant part of your life is your work, and the key to true satisfaction is doing what you consider great work, which stems from loving what you do.”
• “No matter the challenges, always recall the reason you became a nurse.”
• “Every nurse remembers at least one patient who left an indelible mark on their life.”
• “Always be mindful of your fundamental reason and motivation.”
• “Trust in your knowledge; you understand more than you believe.”
• “To be a nurse is to hold back your tears while drawing smiles on others’ faces.”
• “A nurse often becomes the consciousness, the hope, the voice, and the support for those who temporarily or permanently cannot be it for themselves.”
• “Nursing is not for those without a heart or the faint-hearted.”
• “It’s impossible to overstate the value of nurses.”
• “Nurses’ dedication and professionalism are admirable, being there through life’s happiest and saddest moments, and even at the end of life.”
• “In nursing, to remain stationary is to regress; it’s an evolving art.”
• “A nurse is privileged to witness both the first and the last moments of life, opening the eyes of the newborn and gently closing those of the dying.”
• “Don’t abandon your dreams due to the time it takes to achieve them; time will pass regardless.”
• “Forgive your imperfections, be gracious in your learning, and patient on your life’s journey.”
• “Difficult times often set the stage for remarkable destinies.”
• “Success isn’t something I dreamt about; I worked for it.”
• “Effort is the prerequisite for achieving anything.”
• “Every nurse steps into the profession driven by a wish to care, serve, or assist.”
• “Correct, but not the most correct. Such is the nature of nursing education.”
• “Nursing, a true art form, might well be considered the finest of them all.”

Reflection and Funny Nurse Quotes

Nursing, while a noble and serious profession, also has its moments of light-heartedness and humor. This collection of reflection and funny nurse quotes captures the lighter side of nursing, offering a much-needed dose of laughter and relatable moments. 

These quotes blend wit with wisdom, providing a unique perspective on the everyday experiences of nurses. They are a reminder that amidst the challenges and demands of the profession, there’s always room for a smile and a moment to reflect on the joys and quirks of being a nurse.

• “When your career is also your passion, it’s a wonderful thing.”
• “Fear, anticipation, and uncertainty can harm a patient more than physical effort.”
• “Panic is not a part of a nurse’s training.”
• “Knowledge is a treasure that always accompanies its owner.”
• “We, as nurses, should commit to lifelong learning.”
• “If unsure of your purpose, follow your passion; it will guide you to your destiny.”
• “For a nurse, character is as essential as knowledge.”
• “Find a job you love, and it will never feel like work.”
• “Growth always involves stepping out of our comfort zone.”
• “Never stop believing in people; miracles occur daily.”
• “Success is not permanent, failure not fatal; it’s the courage to continue that counts.”
• “Your vocation lies where the world’s needs intersect with your talents.”
• “Forgive your imperfections, be patient with yourself; you’re on a journey.”
• “The world suffers when individuals sacrifice their unique talents to conformity.”
• “Nursing school, much like childbirth, seems less painful once it’s over.”
• “Nursing’s role is to prepare the patient for nature’s healing.”
• “Not all angels have wings; some wear scrubs.”
• “Nurses are a silver lining to illness.”
• “Nurses: embodiments of strength and empathy.”
• “May your scrubs be comfortable, your coffee strong, and your Mondays brief.”
• “No, ‘RN’ doesn’t stand for ‘Refreshments and Narcotics’.”
• “Yes, I’m a nurse. No, I don’t want to examine that.”
• “Don’t mess with me; my job involves needles.”
• “Hand sanitizer becomes a nurse’s best friend.”

In conclusion, the essence of nursing is beautifully captured in the quotes we’ve shared. These heartfelt expressions mirror the dedication, compassion, and resilience that nurses embody every day. 

As we reflect on these inspiring nurse quotes, let’s also consider how we can show our appreciation for the nurses in our lives. Sandjest , with its commitment to meaningful gift-giving, offers a unique opportunity to do just that. Our personalized gifts are more than just items; they are expressions of gratitude and admiration, hand-delivered to convey your deepest sentiments. 

Embrace Sandjest’s vision of transforming gift-giving into a truly heartfelt expression. Let’s make our appreciation for nurses tangible by choosing a personalized gift from Sandjest that resonates with the spirit of these quotes. 

Visit Sandjest today to find that perfect token of appreciation for the nurse who has touched your life. Remember, a gift from Sandjest is not just a present; it’s a heartfelt gesture that will be cherished forever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover the Perfect Personalized Gift at Sandjest

At Sandjest, we’re dedicated to creating personalized gifts that celebrate every occasion and recipient. Our collection features:

• Diverse Occasions: Our collection is perfect for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduation and holidays (Christmas, Valentine's Day, or Thanksgiving,...), we have something for everyone.
• Diverse Product Types: Explore our selection of tumblers, mugs, blankets, water bottles, ornaments, kid bedding set and beach towels, all ready for your creative touch.
• Diverse Recipient: Our customized gifts are designed for kids, parents, grandparents, friends and everyone in between.

Explore our collection and find unique gift ideas that will be cherished for years to come!

Thomas Turner | View all blog posts

Thomas Turner is an SEO Content Writer at Sandjest where he develops and implements content strategies to enhance online visibility and drive organic traffic. With a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Northwestern University and five years of experience in the marketing and content writing field. In his spare time, Thomas enjoys playing badminton and chess, activities that help him stay active and sharpen his strategic thinking skills.

A Meaningful Gift For Someone You Love

Unlock 50% OFF your first order

• Cart 0 0 items
• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose options, edit option, back in stock notification.

Top 100 Inspirational, Motivational & Funny Nursing Quotes

For the days that you just need a little motivation to get through your shift or you don’t know whether to laugh or cry, sometimes an inspirational nursing quote might be just the thing you need to keep going. 

Here is our list of 100 powerful quotes for nurses to draw strength from when times seem overwhelming. From Florence Nightingale to modern nurses, these quotes remind us why we chose this fantastic career in the first place! 

100 Best Nursing Quotes

1. “Nurses are there when the last breath is taken, and nurses are there when the first breath is taken. Although it is more enjoyable to celebrate the birth, it is just as important to comfort in death.” - Christine Belle 

2. “When a person decides to become a nurse, they make the most important decision of their lives. They choose to dedicate themselves to the care of others.” - Margaret Harvey 

3. "The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." - Carolyn Jarvis 

4.  "As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul, and body of our patients, their families, and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou 

5. “No man, not even a doctor, ever gives any other definition of what a nurse should be than this – ‘devoted and obedient.’ This definition would do just as well for a porter. It might even do for a horse. It would not do for a policeman.” - Florence Nightingale 

6. “You treat a disease: You win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.” - Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams 

7. “Live life when you have it. Life is a splendid gift-there is nothing small about it.” - Florence Nightingale 

8. “How can anybody hate nurses? Nobody hates nurses. The only time you hate a nurse is when they’re giving you an enema.” - Warren Beatty 

9. “Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” - Dag Hammarskjold 

10. “Nurse: just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone.” - Brittany Wilson 

11. “Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy… nurses are rarely short on caring.” - Sharon Hudacek 

12. “The best nurses have the essential qualifications before they go to school.” - Florence Nightingale 

13. “Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on Earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling.” - Vincent Van Gogh 

14. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia 

15. “A nurse dispenses comfort, compassion, and caring without even a prescription.” - Val Saintsbury 

16. "Caring is the essence of nursing." - Jean Watson 

17. "Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people, brings happiness." - Harold Kushner 

18. “Nurses are the heart of healthcare.” - Donna Wilk Cardillo 

19. "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle." - Plato 

20. “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” - Dr. William Osler 

21. “Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backward.” - Florence Nightingale 

22. “A nurse will always give us hope, an angel with a stethoscope.” - Carrie Latet 

23. “It’s okay to learn from every experience, and it’s okay to make mistakes.” - Louise Hay

24. “Nursing school. One syllabus at a time. One class at a time. One exam at a time. One clinical at a time. Keep going…” - unknown

25. “Nature alone cures. ... what nursing has to do ... is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him.” - Florence Nightingale 

26. “Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.” - Charles Dickens 

27. “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touch.” - Judy Blume 

28. “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do, in spite of all we go through; that is to be a nurse.” - Rawsi Williams 

29. “Nurses are a unique kind. They have this insatiable need to care for others, which is both their greatest strength and fatal flaw.” - Dr. Jean Watson 

30. “Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses … we must be learning all of our lives.” - Florence Nightingale 

31. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” - Dr. Seuss 

32. “America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.” - Barack Obama 

33. “Being a nurse means to hold all your own tears and start drawing smiles on people’s faces.” - Dana Basem 

34. "The character of a nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses." - Carolyn Jarvis 

35. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia 

36. "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi 

37. “A nurse is compassion in scrubs” - Lexie Saige 

38. “Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are ‘just doing our jobs.’” - Christine Belle 

39. “I did not think of going to give myself a position, but for the sake of common humanity.” - Florence Nightingale 

40. "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

41. “It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.” - Quintilian 

42. “Unless we are making progress in our nursing every year, every month, every week, take my word for it we are going back.” - Florence Nightingale 

43. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela 

44. “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

45. “Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.”  - Christina Feist-Heilmeier 

46. “Nurses encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken.” - Myrtle Aydelotte 

47. “The most important practical lesson that can be given to nurses is to teach them what to observe-how to observe-what symptoms indicate improvement-what the reverse-which are of importance-which are of none-which are the evidence of neglect-and of what kind of neglect.” - Florence Nightingale 

48. "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Earl Nightingale

49. “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.” - Mother Teresa 

50. “Nurses are like icebergs. At any one time, you are only seeing what they are actually doing.” - Ian Miller 

51. “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” - Derek Bok 

52. “Don’t let anyone treat you like an expired 24 butterfly gauge. You are a #16 in the left forearm with excellent venous return!” - unknown

53. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead 

54. “The world gives you so much pain, and here you are, making gold out of it – there is nothing purer than that.” - Rupi Kaur 

55. “Hardships often prepare people for an extraordinary destiny.” - C.S. Lewis 

56. “I am of certain convinced that the greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.” - Florence Nightingale 

57. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this something, at whatever cost, must be attained.” - Marie Curie 

58. “Finding a good nurse is not just about checking off a list of skills the nurse can perform; it's also about finding someone who is a good fit for your home.” - Charisse Montgomery 

59. “Every nurse ought to be careful to wash her hands very frequently during the day. If her face, too, so much the better.” - Florence Nightingale 

60. “One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.” - Jim Rohn 

61. “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” - Mother Teresa 

62. “Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet.” - Donna Wilk Cardillo 

63. “Nurses: one of the few blessings of being ill.” - Sara Moss-Wolfe 

64. “Everything is sketchy. The world does nothing but sketch.” - Florence Nightingale 

65. “Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” - Aristotle 66. “I may be compelled to face danger, but never fear it, and while our soldiers can stand and fight, I can stand and feed and nurse them.” - Clara Barton 

67. “A caress, a smile, is full of meaning for one who is sick. It is a simple gesture, but encouraging; he or she feels accompanied, feels closer to being healed, feels like a person, not a number.” - Pope Francis 

68. “Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.” - H. Jackson Brown Jr. 

69. "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." - Muhammad Ali 

70. “Confidence is not ‘they will like me,’ confidence is “I’ll be fine if they don’t.” Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them.” - T. Harv Eker 

71. “The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick no harm.” - Florence Nightingale

72. “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy; I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.” - Art Williams 

73. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” - Anthony J. D’Angelo 

74. “I did not think of going to give myself a position, but for the sake of common humanity.” - Florence Nightingale 

75. “Nurses are always there; you care for us from the earliest years. You look after us in our happiest and saddest times. And for many, you look after us and our families at the end of our lives. Your dedication and professionalism are awe-inspiring.” - Duchess Kate Middleton 

76. “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” - William Osler 

77. “I didn't want just any career, so I am not going to be just any nurse.”  - Denise Richards 

78. “Apprehension, uncertainty, waiting, expectation, fear of surprise, do a patient more harm than any exertion.“ - Florence Nightingale  

79. “It would not be possible to praise nurses too highly.” - Stephen Ambrose 

80. “Most of all, you need moral courage because nursing is about the pursuit of justice. It requires you to stand up to bullies, to do things that are right but difficult, and to speak your mind even when you are afraid. I wasn’t strong like this when I started out. Nursing made me strong.” - Tilda Shalof 

81. “Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion – towards ourselves and towards all living beings.” - Thich Nhat Hanh 

82. “May we hope that, when we are all dead and gone, leaders will arise who have been personally experienced in the hard, practical work, the difficulties, and the joys of organizing nursing reforms and who will lead far beyond anything we have done!” - Florence Nightingale 

83. “Panic plays no part in the training of a nurse.” - Elizabeth Kenny 

84. “I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” - Maya Angelou 

85. “I attribute my success to this:—I never gave or took an excuse.”- Florence Nightingale

86. “Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today.” - Amy Leigh Mercree 

87. “Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed; just make your presence felt.” - Grace Lichtenstein 

88. “Although your educational journey may be difficult at times, you will reap the reward of utmost satisfaction when holding your nursing diploma for the first time—and nothing will ever compare to the fulfillment that improving and saving the lives of others will bring!” - Mikhail Shneyder 

89. “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts.” - Florence Nightingale 

90. “Being a nurse is weird: I can keep a poker face through trauma, but have a mental breakdown over losing my favorite pen.”--unknown

91. “The nurse is temporarily the consciousness of the unconscious, the love of life for the suicidal, the leg of the amputee, the eyes of the newly blind, a means of locomotion for the infant, the knowledge and confidence of the young mother, and a voice for those too weak to speak.” - Virginia Henderson 

92. “For the sick it is important to have the best.” - Florence Nightingale 

93. “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” - St. Francis of Assisi 

94. “The longer I’m in the profession, the more experiences shape my life, the more amazing colleagues influence me, the more I see the micro and macro power of nursing.” - Joni Watson 

95. “We are each made for goodness, love, and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths.” - Desmond Tutu 

96. “The world is put back by the death of everyone who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality.” - Florence Nightingale 

97. “I think one’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results.” - Florence Nightingale 

98. “Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestation of strength and resolution.” - Kahlil Gibran 

99. “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia 

100. “God appoints our graces to be NURSES to other men’s weaknesses.” – Henry Ward Beecher 

Breann Kakacek BSN RN has been a registered nurse for more than 8 years and a CNA for 2 years while going through the nursing program. Most of her nursing years include working in the medical ICU and Cardiovascular ICU and moonlighting in the OR as a circulating nurse. She has always had a passion for writing and enjoys using her nursing knowledge to create amazing online content.

Plus, get exclusive access to discounts for nurses, stay informed on the latest nurse news, and learn how to take the next steps in your career.

By clicking “Join Now”, you agree to receive email newsletters and special offers from Nurse.org. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link, found at the bottom of every email.

Inspirational Poems, Touching Stories, Death, Dying, End of Life, Hospice

Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders, and are not owned or affiliated with nursefriendly, inc. or any of it's affiliated companies..

• Economy & Markets
• Digital Life

World Hospice And Palliative Care Day: Theme And Quotes About End-Of-Life Care

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, is being commemorated on Oct. 9 this year to highlight the need for global palliative care that helps to improve the quality of life for people affected by serious health problems.

According to statistics from WHO, every year around 40 million people need palliative care out of which 78% live in low and middle-income countries. It is also estimated that only about 14% of people who need palliative care receive it.

This year's theme for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day -- "Leave no one behind – equity in access to palliative care" aims to raise awareness about how vital and accessible palliative care should be to everyone irrespective of their age, background and location.

"As the world is still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, where palliative care has become even more vital, we will ask policymakers to ensure an essential package of palliative care services is tailored to individual needs," World Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance said in a news release .

The agency said the celebration of the day should shed light on the importance of including palliative care within countries’ plans and budgets.

Here are some quotes about end-of-life care that will help you understand its significance. (Courtesy: Easy Living , Good Reads ).

• "You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully but also to live until you die." - Cicely Saunders
• “Endings matter, not just for the person but, perhaps even more, for the ones left behind.” - Atul Gawande
• "At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent." - Barbara Bush
• "In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln
• "The end of life deserves as much beauty, care and respect as the beginning." - Anonymous
• "Having the choice at the end of my life has become incredibly important. It has given me a sense of peace during a time that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty and pain." - Brittany Maynard
• “People struggle to see it's not about whether she's going to die - palliative care isn't just a place you go to slowly slip away. More people live and leave than die on our wards. It is about being comfortable for the duration of something necessary and painful. Making bad times easier.” - Beth O'Leary

© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.

Captured On Camera: Hiker In China Nearly Hurtles To His Death

RFK Jr. Bragged He Had Intimate Photos Of Journalist: Report

Sign Of The Times: Climate Change Inspires New 'Leafless Tree' Emoji

Israel Launches Probe After Its Troops Are Filmed Heaving Palestinian Bodies Off Roof

Raunchy Posts Linked To Trump-Backed Mark Robinson Vanish From Porn Site

George Conway Mocks Nikki Haley As She Campaigns For Candidate Who Slammed Her As A 'Bird Brain'

Feds Nab Luxurious Duo Who Stole, Laundered Over $230M In Bitcoin

Wall Street Shatters Records, Fueled By Fed's 'Jumbo Cut'

Olive Garden Owner Announces Uber Delivery Partnership

'It's History': Donald Trump Becomes First Ex-US President To Publicly Make A Bitcoin Payment

King's College London

08 March 2018

Dame Cicely Saunders: A Palliative Care Pioneer

Cicely Saunders changed the way that the medical profession and society in general, viewed care for the dying.

One of the most influential female figures of the 20th century, with a legacy which continues to affect how many of us will be cared for as we approach the end of life, is a woman whose name is still relatively obscure compared to female pioneers such as Marie Curie and Florence Nightingale. However, Dame Cicely Saunders changed the way that the medical profession, and society in general, viewed care for the dying at a time when the only treatment generally offered was pain relief. Cicely’s theory of ‘total pain’, incorporating a person’s physical, psychological, social, spiritual and practical needs, is reflected in the multi-disciplinary teams which now work together to provide person-centered care for patients at the end of life.

Dame Cicely Saunders was born a century ago, on 22 June 1918, and over the course of her life undertook a number of roles, as a nurse, medical social worker, doctor and research lead, in order to develop and deliver her vision of palliative care. Cicely realised that the care provided to people dying in hospitals left a lot to be desired; patients were often provided with inadequate pain relief and told that “there was nothing more that could be done”. This was a statement that Cicely was not prepared to accept, and she worked tirelessly to improve services for patients and their families whilst challenging the belief that prescribing palliative care to people with life-limiting conditions equated to ‘giving up’ on them.

St Christopher’s Hospice, which Cicely founded in 1967, is widely recognised as the first place to combine teaching and clinical research, pain and symptom control, and compassionate care. It was here that Cicely was able to develop the approach which has been adopted worldwide and continues to lie at the heart of care for the dying; that patients need spiritual, emotional and social support, as well as effective pain relief, at the end of life. In recognition of her significant services to the field of palliative care, Cicely was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1979 and awarded the Order of Merit in 1989.

Although Cicely died in 2005 at the hospice she founded, her life’s work of improving palliative care provision and support for people with progressive illness continues apace. She established the charity that would become Cicely Saunders International in 2002 and worked actively for the creation of a centre housing research, education, information provision and clinical care. In partnership with King’s College London, the Cicely Saunders Institute was built in 2010 and acts as a vital hub for academics, healthcare professionals, community organisations, patients and carers.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Press for Progress. An inspiring force for change and a natural leader, Cicely Saunders radically improved clinical practice for people at the end of life and paved the way for a more holistic model of person-centered care. Cicely’s legacy is still evident in hospital wards, care homes and hospices around the world, and can best be summarised by one of her most famous quotes: “You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.”

To celebrate the centenary of Dame Cicely’s birth, the Cicely Saunders Institute is curating a series of events and online campaigns which celebrate her life and showcase the ongoing development of palliative medicine, both in the UK and internationally. Follow the  @CSI_KCL  Twitter account to keep up to date with all the latest news about the Cicely Centenary Celebration series or check out the dedicated series  webpage .

Related departments

• Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation
• Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care

58 Quotes to Recognize Nurses as the True Heroes They Are

These relatable nurse quotes show the struggle, love and care that nurses put into their profession, and give them the heartfelt appreciation & honor for the heroes that they really are.

Nurse Quotes

“Let us have compassion upon each other, and let the strong tenderly nurse the weak into strength, and let those who can see guide the blind until they can see the way for themselves.” – Brigham Young

“A nurse will always give us hope, an Angel with a stethoscope.” – Terri Guillemets

“The end of all knowledge should be service to others.” – Cesar Chavez

“Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.” – Mason Cooley

“I am currently in nursing school, so one day I will be both a nurse and a writer.” – Liza Campbell

“Pioneering spirit should continue, not to conquer the planet or space … but rather to improve the quality of life.” – Bertrand Piccard

“Nurses are in unique positions to make a difference every day locally, nationally, and globally for patients, the profession, and individually,” – Patricia Jakel

“The groundwork of all happiness is health.” – Leigh Hunt

“As nurses, we know suffering. We are fully aware of how precious each moment of life is.” – Patricia Bratianu

“Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“One of the lessons I hope the world learns from COVID-19 is that we must invest in nurses and midwives.” – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

“The body is a sacred garment.” – Martha Graham

“Constant attention by a good nurse may be just as important as a major operation by a surgeon.” – Dag Hammarskjold

“I’m dating a girl who’s pretty level headed. She’s a nurse. She’s a real, normal girl. Which is what I need because my life isn’t normal.” – Kenny Chesney

“The first wealth is health.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To do what nobody else will do, in a way that nobody else can, in spite of all we go through, is to be a nurse.” – Rawsi Williams.

“True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain but also being moved to help relieve it.” – Daniel Goleman

“Save one life and you’re a hero, save one hundred lives and you’re a nurse.” – Unknown

“Every nurse was drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, or to help.” – Christina Feist-Heilmeier

“Nurses – nurses, you’m all the same. Full of cheerfulness over other people’s troubles.” – Agatha Christie

“Creating unity and compassion and understanding of each of our brothers and sisters is so powerful. We have to preach that to the ones that don’t want to listen and understand.” – Bubba Wallace

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Nurses encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken.” – Myrtle Aydelotte

“Going into health care, you have to be ready on your feet and take what comes at you.” – Aisha Diallo

“America’s nurses are the beating heart of our medical system.” – President Barack Obama

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” – Buddha

“Caring is the essence of nursing.” – Jean Watson

“Every nurse is an Angel with a Key for a Healthy Community! All in Caring for Patients is part of Nursing Soul!” – Aleksandar Radenovi

“Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all goals.” – Kallam Anji Reddy

“Nursing is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts.” – Florence Nightingale

“I feel passionate about nurses. I would do anything for nurses. Anything.” – Eve Ensler

“And as a nurse, I know very well the importance, for example, of electronic medical records.” – Lois Capps

“Love is cheering and sharing and compassion and giving and receiving. Love is an action thing more than a word thing, that brings comfort or joy or relief to anyone or anything.” – Ziggy Marley

“I am a fantastic nurse. I discovered this about myself, and I’m really fantastic at diagnosing things.” – Jill Flint

“To every nurse and midwife, I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You have our deep admiration, respect, and gratitude.” – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

“Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy.” – Sai Baba

“As a father, as a husband, I will forever be in debt to the women and men of the nursing profession” – Barack Obama

“Our job as nurses is to cushion the sorrow and celebrate the job, every day, while we are ‘just doing our jobs.’” – Christine Belle

“Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.” – Eric Hoffer

“One day treats us like a hireling nurse, another like a mother.” – Publilius Syrus

“Every day, nurses are putting themselves at risk to alleviate suffering and save lives.” – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

“Whether a person is a male or female, a nurse is a nurse.” – Gary Veale

“Compassion is a call, a demand of nature, to relieve the unhappy as hunger is a natural call for food.” – Joseph Butler

“Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” – Florence Nightingale

“Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion – towards ourselves and towards all living beings.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

“The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” – William Osler

“The bravery of nursing is amazing.” – Brittany Uglesich

“Compassion isn’t morose; it’s something replenishing and opening; that’s why it makes us happy.” – Sharon Salzberg

“Health is not valued till sickness comes.” – Thomas Fuller

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia

“It’s so inspiring to see nurses and healthcare team has taken the challenges and risen to the challenge to care for our community in new ways,” – Erica Prough

“A nurse is compassion in scrubs.” – Lexie Saige

“We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths.” – Desmond Tutu

“If love can’t cure it, nurses can.” – Unknown

“My sister is a nurse and saves people’s lives.” – Nicholas Lea

“Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.” – Aristotle

Submit a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Find a store

Hospice messages: what to write to someone who is dying.

The end of a person’s life is an important time for friends and family members to reach out with words of caring, support, and gratitude. Unfortunately, our culture isn’t particularly comfortable with death and dying. Most of us feel stifled and awkward when we think about what to say to someone in hospice care who has days or months to live.

Confession time: I’m a longtime Hallmark writer, and I still felt stumped when asked about writing this kind of message. Luckily, I work with thoughtful people who have direct experience as caregivers and family members of someone in hospice, and they were gracious enough to share what they’ve learned.

The first is Tracy Riley, who is both a Hallmark administrative pro and an experienced hospice nurse. If that sounds like two careers, well, it is—but Tracy is passionate about both Hallmark’s mission of helping people connect emotionally and hospice’s call to care for individuals and families facing the end of life. The second is Marn Jensen, a retired Hallmark writer and editor who has seen both of her parents through hospice care in recent years. Marn also continues to stay connected to hospice through participants in her 2018 Wishes for the World project.

I’ve organized these writing tips and approaches by theme, but you certainly don’t have to stick to just one theme in what you write or say to someone who is dying. Whether you’re writing a note, spending time with them, or both, I hope you’ll find ideas for messages that offer comfort, bring a smile and, most of all, let someone know how much their life has meant to you.

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark .

• We Will Be Okay
• Life and Legacy
• Lightheartedness and Humor
• To Family and Caregivers
• What NOT to Say

Acceptance  

According to hospice nurse Tracy Riley, by the time a person has entered hospice care, they’ve accepted the fact that they’re dying, and it’s helpful for them to know that family and friends have accepted this, too.

“They’re tired of pain, tired of suffering, tired of fighting,” says Tracy. “You can keep praying for a miracle, but the person who’s dying needs you to affirm that it’s okay to stop fighting and to focus on peace and comfort instead.”

• “I know this wasn’t an easy decision to make. Just want you to know I support you and I’m glad you’re making the most of this time with the people you love.”
• “I don’t like this, but we’re going to do our best with this time.”
• “I’m sad, of course, but I’m also glad you’re in a place where you don’t have to fight so hard anymore.”
• “I’m praying for you to feel at peace and to know how much you’re loved.”

Helpful tip: Hospice care tends to last from several days to six months. For someone who spends months in hospice, there will be more opportunities to write and visit, so consider reaching out multiple times.

Thank You  

“Thank you” is one key message that writer and editor Marn Jensen tried to express often to her mother and father during their time in hospice. Gratitude for the person’s life, their caring, and their influence really does make for a warm and affirming message. And that’s true for anyone from an immediate family member to a friend to more distant connections.

• “Thank you for all the days you’ve made brighter just by being you. There have been more of them than I can count.”
• “Thinking of the good life you’ve lived, the great times we’ve shared, and feeling so grateful for you.”
• “You’ve been such an important part of my life, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
• “I so admire the warm, funny, genuine person you are. My life will forever be better because you’ve been part of it.”
• “I wish we could have more time together, but I want you to know I cherish the times we have had and the time we still have.”
• “Thanks for being the one and only you and for being a blessing to so many people—especially me.”
• “I’ve been beyond lucky to know you. Thank you.”
• “You’ve been the best dad. Thank you.”

Helpful tip: Embracing a gratitude mindset can help you shift your message focus from the sadness of dying to the meaning in living.

I Love You  

“I love you” is the other key message Marn took care to express often to her parents while they were in hospice. It’s about the warmest thing you can say to a family member or good friend, and it means even more to someone who is dying. Even if it’s not the kind of relationship where you say “love” often, this is one time of life when you’ll feel good that you did. And so will they.

• “I love you so much, Mom.”
• “Hoping you’re having a good day and sending you my love…”
• “I love you. Thank you for loving me, too.”
• “It hurts to let you go, but I wouldn’t trade one moment of all we’ve shared. I love you with all my heart.”

Helpful tip: You could also end any written message with a “love” closing: “Love,” “With love,” “Lots of love,” “Love and prayers,” etc.

We Will Be Okay  

According to Tracy, it’s stressful for someone in hospice to worry about how loved ones will get along without them.  So even though it probably feels far from okay to lose someone close to you, it’s important to communicate that you will be okay, and that important people and pets will be taken care of, too.

• “You’ve taken such good care of all of us for so long. We’ll miss that, and we’ll miss you, but we’ll be all right. We’ll find ways to take care of each other.”
• “One thing I want to make sure you know is that I will honor you in taking care of the kids and do the same things for them that you would have done.”
• “I hope it eases your mind a little to know Spot is going to make his new forever home with Kathy and Tom. They’re happy to have him, and they promise to love him just like you do.”
• “Of course, I’m going to miss you like crazy, but you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be okay.”
• “Maybe we’re not exactly okay right now, but in time, we will be. Luckily, we’ve got a lot of caring people around us to help us through after you’ve gone.”
• “I hope you’re not worried about anyone or anything right now. I hope you simply feel surrounded by love.”

Helpful tip: It’s fine to honestly acknowledge how awful or unfair it is that this person you care about is dying. But don’t dwell there. Try to follow the acknowledgement with comfort: “This is so hard, but it’s good to know you’re home with your family around you…” Or, “I really hate the thought of losing you, but I’m glad you don’t have to keep struggling so hard anymore…”

Life and Legacy  

It’s also helpful for a person who is dying to hear they added something good to the world, their life mattered, and their influence will live on—in things they achieved, lessons they taught, traditions you’ll keep, and beyond.

• “I hope you’re proud of the amazing family you’ve raised. Thanks for putting some good humans into the world.”
• “You’re someone who has used your life to touch so many others. I’ll always feel incredibly lucky that mine was one of them.”
• “You’ve shaped our community in ways that will live on beyond you, so thank you.”
• “Okay, so clearly you didn’t invent a cure for cancer. But you’ve still done so many good things in life—for your family, for your church, in your career, and for all of us who care about you. I hope you feel great about the difference you’ve made.”
• “Just so you know, we’ll be pouring an extra glass for you at wine book club. You’ve been the heart and soul of our crew, and we plan to keep it going in your honor.”
• “I wish my kids were old enough to know you better, but don’t worry. They’re going to know all your funny stories and weird traditions. They’ll know their Papa Frank is a huge part of what makes our family so great.”
• “A friend like you doesn’t come along very often. You made so many tough times easier and the best times even better. I hold every memory we’ve made together close to my heart.”

Helpful tip: “The end of life is hard, but it can also be beautiful,” Marn says. “So be present however you can. Do your best to make it about that person and not about you or your nervousness about saying the wrong thing.”

Lightheartedness and Humor  

Tracy also emphasizes the underestimated importance of humor in communicating with someone in hospice: “A person who’s dying doesn’t want everyone to act sad around them all the time. They appreciate it when someone is willing to kid around with them.”

So especially when humor has always been part of your relationship, feel free to be real and lighten things up a bit.

• “Are you sure this isn’t just some elaborate show you’re putting on before you go off and disappear to a tropical island?”
• “This whole loungewear look you’ve got going on probably isn’t your best ever, but don’t worry. You’re still pretty cool. And I still love you.”
• “May I just say that it really sucks that you’re dying? Hey, this is me here—not some kind of poet.”
• “Wow, apparently some people will do anything to get out of working. JK—I miss you, and I’ve been thinking about you a lot.”
• “Are you still allowed scotch? Because I’m pretty sure this calls for one.”

Helpful tip: Tracy also mentioned that reading cards to the people they’re caring for is a common thing for a hospice nurse to do. So keep that in mind as you choose your words and your funny material. You don’t want to scandalize the nurse…or the whole family!

To Family and Caregivers  

Sometimes the people around the person who’s dying are struggling even harder. It’s good to reach out to them, too, either with words of support or with specific offers of help.

• “Thinking of you as you take care of your mom. What a comfort for her to have you with her. Love to you both.”
• “This must be such a challenging time for you and your family. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers.”
• “It’s okay not to be okay right now. Remember that, and know that it’s fine to let some balls drop. You’ve got a lot of people who will come and help pick them up—me, for one.”
• “I don’t really know what would help most, but I figured you still need to eat, so here’s dinner on me.”
• “I know you’re not able to be home a lot right now, so I’ve been keeping the lawn mowed and the leaves picked up. No big. Just glad you’re able to be with your dad.”
• “Thought maybe you could use a little break from worrying about food on top of everything else, so we’ve got a Meal Train set up and running for you. Hope it helps take a little off your mind.”

Helpful tip: “Let me know if there’s anything I can do” comes from a good place, but it puts the burden of asking on someone who’s struggling and possibly not thinking all that clearly. For that reason, specific gestures or offers of support tend to be more helpful. If you spend a little time with the caregiver, you may pick up on things they need without even having to ask.

What NOT to Say  

Basically, there are all kinds of good things you can and should say to someone at the end of their life. But here are a few messages to skip:

• “I’m still hoping/praying for a miracle.” Of course, you can keep praying on your own. But when you’re communicating with someone in hospice, be accepting of the fact that they’ve moved past this point.
• “Keep fighting.” Be respectful of their decision to stop fighting.
• “Everything happens for a reason.” This unintentionally implies that the person must have done something wrong to deserve to die.
• “This is God’s plan/will.” Even people of faith are sometimes angry at the end of life, and likely to struggle with this idea. Telling them that you’re praying for peace and comfort would be a better way to go.
• “You look great!” Unless they do, but they probably don’t, and they probably know it. Just be real with them.

Helpful Tip: “Bottom line,” says Tracy Riley, “be honest, be authentic, and don’t sugarcoat things.” In other words, be your caring self, and you’ll do fine.

• greeting card messages
• grief support

Shop Sympathy

You may also like, card ideas what to write in a boss’s day card.

The “job” of what to write in a Boss's Day card will be much easier with these tips from Hallmark writers on what you...

Wedding What to write in a bridal shower thank-you note

Find tips for what to write in a bridal shower thank-you note from the experts at Hallmark.

Card Ideas What to write: 238 short, sweet and funny gift card message ideas

From groceries to spa days and “just because” to birthdays, here are dozens of gift card message ideas to accompany y...

Valentine's Day How to write a love letter

Learn how to write a love letter from the experts at Hallmark.

Baby Baby shower wishes: What to write in a baby shower card

Of all the kinds of parties there are, baby showers are pretty much the sweetest. And the cutest. And the most likely...

Kwanzaa Kwanzaa wishes: Connect with a Kwanzaa card

Kwanzaa, a festival of lights rich in African symbolism, takes place each year from December 26th through January 1st...

Hanukkah Hanukkah wishes: What to write in a Hanukkah card

Hanukkah is a lighthearted festival filled with rich traditions, many of which include food, fun, family and friends....

Congratulations Congratulations messages: What to write in a congratulations card

A race run, a dream job landed, a new home, a big promotion, a little victory…It’s one of life’s great joys to see so...

Card Ideas "Thinking of you" messages: What to write in a "thinking of you" card

There comes that awkward point when it’s been a while since you’ve talked to someone you care about, and you want to ...

Baby New baby wishes: what to write in a baby card

In life, it just doesn’t get much happier than the arrival of a new baby. One moment, there is simply the dream of th...

Sympathy Sympathy messages: What to write in a sympathy card

Signing a sympathy card isn’t easy. We search for words. We wonder what would be comforting to hear. We worry about s...

Encouragement What to write in a good luck card

We’ve got tips and message starters on what to write in a good luck card to get your thoughts flowing and your pen mo...

Card Ideas What to write in a Passover card: Pesach messages for friends and family

Great ideas on what to write in a Passover card, no matter who is celebrating.

Mother's Day When Mother’s Day is hard: Grieving on Mother's Day

Find a few ways to offer support and kindness when Mother's Day is hard.

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving messages: What to write to share a little gratitude

A grateful heart is a full heart, especially at Thanksgiving. With a spirit of thankfulness in the air, there’s no be...

Card Ideas Card messages for kids: What to write in a kid’s holiday card and more

My 3-year-old was having a hard time at preschool drop-off. Dragging his feet. Asking to stay home. This went on a fe...

Sympathy How to support a grieving friend

Advice on how to support a grieving friend, directly from people who went through it. Get ideas to show you care here.

Sympathy Sympathy gift ideas for offering your condolences and support

Many times, we don’t know what to say after a loss. It can be difficult to determine what will comfort a hurting frie...

Sympathy 75+ grief quotes to give you comfort and help you heal

Grieving the loss of a loved one feels different for everyone, and there’s no telling what will bring comfort on a ha...

Card Ideas Sending Cards and Letters: Our Best Advice and Ideas

Maybe you’ve made it a goal to develop a letter writing habit. Maybe you have someone you feel the need to reach out ...

Added to your cart

We're sorry.

There was an error adding this product to your cart. Please close this window and try again.

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Talk about death, but live your life: What people working in end-of-life care have learned

Eventually, we are all going to die. It’s a reality that most people are uncomfortable with and do everything they can to avoid thinking about. But for people who work in end-of-life care, such as hospice workers and death doulas , death is both a fact of the job and a part of their everyday reality.

While the work may sound grim, those who do it say that their daily proximity to death doesn't cast a shadow over their lives; rather, it has enabled them to more purposefully celebrate life’s beauty.

“People think hospice nursing is depressing, but it's really amazing because people are so vulnerable, which helps you be vulnerable,” Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse known by millions online as Hospice Nurse Julie , tells Yahoo Life. “You just see love in action.”

Yahoo Life spoke to hospice professionals to hear the life lessons they’ve learned by working so closely with death. Here’s what they said.

Take care of your health and be grateful for it

For many, working with patients in their final days inspires a deeper appreciation for health and how to best preserve it. “After watching the horrible deaths my patients with alcoholic cirrhosis went through, I quit drinking,” says hospice nurse Penny Smith, who co-hosts the podcast Death Happens and manages the popular social media account Hospice Nurse Penny .

McFadden says that hearing patients express regret for taking their health for granted motivated her to more fully appreciate her own health in the moment. “People don't realize how lucky they are to not wake up in pain,” she says. "[Some patients] will stay stuff like, ‘I wish I would have appreciated being able to get up and walk and do whatever I wanted to do.’”

Keep your sense of humor

The end of life can be sad, but those who work with people who are close to death testify to the importance of a sense of humor. “The things that have stayed with me are the moments of joy and humor,” says Halley Harris, a social worker and co-host of the Death Happens podcast. “Like one patient’s T-shirt that they showed me that said ‘Cremation is my last chance for a smoking hot body.’”

Others in hospice care say dying patients' regrets have inspired them to seek out more humor and fun in their lives. Dr. Christi Bartlett, medical director of inpatient hospice at the University of Kansas Health System, remembers a patient who was diagnosed with a rapidly progressive cancer. “As she was facing death, she looked at me and said, ‘I should have had more fun,’” Bartlett says. “It felt like a lament but also a challenge for those of us in the room to simply have more fun.”

Prioritize your relationships

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no one gets through life alone,” palliative care physician Matt Tyler tells Yahoo Life. “In those final moments, the things people say are almost always about relationships. ‘He was a wonderful father,’ or ‘She was the best sister.’ What sticks with me is that we are remembered for who we were to others.”

Lisa Pahl, a hospice social worker and co-creator of The Death Deck , a party game that helps people confront end-of-life issues. remembers moments when patients regretted the fact that relationships weren’t their top priority. One relatively young hospice patient who lived alone and had few people in her life stands out. “When we began discussing a plan for when she declines and needs more help, she became teary," Pahl tells Yahoo Life. "She shared that she wished she had spent more time nurturing friendships. ‘Then maybe I wouldn’t be alone now, at the end of my life.’”

Acknowledge your mortality — and talk about it

Those who work in end-of-life care understand that most people don’t want to talk about death. But they agree that doing it anyway is the best way to make the experience peaceful — not just for the dying, but also for their loved ones.

“When I walk into a new hospice patient’s home and there have been open conversations about the fact that this person is in the final stage of their lives, and there’s been some preparation such as making burial plans and completing a will or trust, there is a sense of peace and calmness,” says Pahl. “When the person or family are fearful of the topic of death and dying and have not had these meaningful conversations, there tends to be a lot of anxiety and chaos.”

Bartlett says that knowing your loved one’s end-of-life wishes can help avoid a great deal of pain for all. “We see people get stuck in the hospital and on machines that can no longer speak for themselves," she says. "It is incredibly difficult for loved ones to make decisions on their behalf if they never had open and honest discussions about their wishes."

Bartlett adds that in those instances patients often end up getting aggressive treatments leading to a quality of life they may not have chosen for themselves. “The people who have made a point to talk with their families about their wishes are much better protected from these unfortunate outcomes, and their families typically feel much better equipped and at peace when it comes time to make hard decisions,” she says.

The body knows how to die

McFadden says that watching people die has helped her ease her own fears about mortality. “Our bodies are built to die," she says. "They have built-in mechanisms like shutting down the hunger and thirst mechanism so you don’t feel hungry and thirsty at the end of life. Then your calcium levels rise usually, so then you feel really sleepy. People always think it's this big, painful, awful event, but for the most part the actual dying process is peaceful and the body knows how to do it.”

Live your life

Constant exposure to death has made end-of-life workers evermore grateful for their lives. “Life is for living — don’t wait to start until you’re dying!” says Smith. “Tomorrow isn’t promised for anyone.”

Bartlett says that her work helps her to feel gratitude in the moment. “I have stopped with the notion of ‘When I finally XYZ, then I will be happy. There is always something else out there we want to accomplish or achieve and it is easy to miss the most amazing things in the present, while we are waiting for that ‘thing’ to happen. It is critically important to look for and embrace the beauty of exactly where I am right this moment.”

Dr. Sunita Puri, author of That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour , says that her patients have reminded her that living life isn’t always about being joyful; it’s about experiencing it all. “One of my favorite patients wrote me notes because oral cancer devastated his mouth and throat," she tells Yahoo Life. "I still have the note that says, ‘You cannot have joy in this life without the pain. Embrace both. Thank them both for what they can teach you.' It's a philosophy that I have kept with me ever since.”

“We all are going to die. To me, that statement is not depressing,” says Pahl. “When we think about the fact that our time on earth is finite, it can help guide us to live our best lives. I think about the regrets that I hear from people in their final days, and try to live my life with intention and joy.”

Help shape our new Peloton Strength+ beta app into the ultimate training experience. Sign up for early access.

Maria Korneeva / Moment via Getty Images

55 Inspiring Self-Care Quotes That’ll Fill Your Cup

Because taking time for yourself is always a good idea.

By Blake Bakkila • September 20, 2024

Self-care is often portrayed as face masks and bubble baths, but it’s so much more than that. Nurturing your relationship with yourself is fundamental to your mental and physical health, and it’s not always linear. And when you need an extra dose of motivation and encouragement, it can help to read self-care quotes that resonate with you.

There are real benefits to reading quotes about self-care. “Whatever we see or say to ourselves has an influence on our subconscious mind, which controls a lot of our behavior,” says Hannah Yang , PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Balanced Awakening. “So, if we are choosing to expose ourselves to positive quotes, we are, in part, reprogramming our subconscious mind to act more in accordance with what we consciously desire.” 

Even your favorite fitness instructors rely on positive mantras to keep them going. For instance, Peloton instructor Ash Pryor remembers coming across this quote during the COVID-19 pandemic: “You grow in confidence when you keep the promises you made to yourself.”

“Anytime I find myself losing confidence or questioning anything I say this quote,” Ash says. “I also use it a lot in class. It’s like a check in: Did you keep the promise to be nice, the promise to try, the promise to get back up? It’s also a reminder to celebrate every effort.”

Ready for more inspiration? Ahead, find an array of self-care quotes from Peloton instructors, pro athletes, authors, poets, actors, and more. (And remember, you can also find an extra motivation boost in the thousands of classes available on the Peloton App .)

AleksandarNakic / E+ via Getty Images

55 Encouraging Self-Care Quotes

“I’ll audibly say, ‘Good job, Katie!’ as I get each task done. It reminds me of how my parents would encourage me as a child and helps me manage those long, stressful days.” —Peloton instructor Katie Wang

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” ― bell hooks

“Extreme self-care is serious business—so much more than taking warm baths, getting a massage, saying no, or setting new priorities. It’s about building self-esteem, becoming emotionally strong and empowered, and developing the kind of character that makes you decisive, clear, and honest about who you are and what you want.” — Cheryl Richardson

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” ― Oprah Winfrey

“Taking care of myself doesn’t mean ‘me first.’ It means ‘me, too.’” ― L.R. Knost

“Enduring means accepting. Accepting things as they are and not as you would wish them to be, and then looking ahead, not behind.” —Rafael Nadal

“Keep good company, read good books, love good things and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can.” ―Louisa May Alcott

“Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love.” ― Brené Brown  

“Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” ―Princess Diana

“Believe in yourself, and you’re halfway there.” —Peloton instructor Callie Gullickson

“It’s okay to do nothing if you can once in a while. It’s okay to not be perfect, to not get it all done... take care of yourself. Do what recharges you.” ― Leah Remini

“Exercise helps make my body strong enough to do what I set my heart and mind to. I carry myself differently when I feel strong. I’ve always worked out and been active, and it’s one of the ways I care for myself: along with meditation, baths, eating beautiful things that make me happy, being silent, and being with friends and family. Self-care is one of the active ways that I love myself. When you can and as you can, in ways that feel loving, make time and space for yourself.” — Tracee Ellis Ross  

“We have so much to rush for, so many things to fix and problems to solve, with all of that happening I’m trying to remind myself of self-care every day…” — Jonathan Van Ness

“I indulge in my coffee ritual. In between waiting for it to drip down, I stretch. I wake up my body and I breathe.” —Peloton instructor Jess King

“Developing mindfulness tactics and employing them while training and racing was key to my success. By using goal visualization and positive self-talk to get through the difficult training sessions and long races, I was able to avoid burnout and stay mentally committed to my objectives.” — Hunter Kemper

“I recognize that willpower is a finite and depletable resource, and I only have so much to give any one day. When I notice my willpower is getting low, I’ll try and press pause. I’ll reevaluate the rest of my day.” — Alexi Pappas

“Unapologetically, I allow myself ‘me’ time, whether that’s a 10-minute mask or watching my coffee brew for five minutes.” —Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin

“My self-care is my morning routine. I don’t pick up my phone till I’m finished walking my dogs, feeding the dogs, meditating, journaling, making my coffee. You know, just having a nice clear head, and then I’ll go into the world, so to speak.” — Jennifer Aniston

“Don’t compare your chapter one with someone else’s chapter six.” —Peloton instructor Ally Love

 “I learned early on in my career that rest is just as important as the really hard workouts that I do.” — Allyson Felix

“With our lives seemingly getting busier by the minute, think of your self-care routine as an opportunity to treat yourself with kindness, and spend those five, 10, 15 minutes checking in with your mind and your body.” — Sloane Stephens

“I’m a firm believer in energy being contagious, so I often share in class that ‘Good energy attracts good people.’” —Peloton instructor Katie Wang

“We are always taught to be these self-sufficient super humans—so much so that it’s difficult to have our own needs on our own radars. We are conditioned to be selfless, and when we do take the time to engage in self-care we are chided for being selfish. There seems to be no way to win. But we must. Or else we risk poor health (and all of the things associated with stress and existing in a constant state of being overwhelmed); we risk our sanity and mental well-being.” — Mirna Valerio

“Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious.  You get to choose how you use it.  You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” —Anna Taylor

“Treat your body like someone you love.” —Peloton instructor Hannah Corbin

“My friend...care for your psyche...know thyself, for once we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves.” —Socrates

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.” —Jack Kornfield

“Self-care and wellness is about so much more than just doing a workout or drinking a green smoothie. It’s how you care for yourself physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.” — Amanda Kloots

“Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.” — William Shakespeare

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” ⁠— Audrey Hepburn

“Yesterday, I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” —Rumi

“You have to take care of your brain just like you take care of your body.” — A.J. Brown

“You can’t hate yourself into change. Love yourself into greatness.” —Peloton instructor Emma Lovewell

“Whenever I’m being hard on myself, [Peloton instructor] Ash Pryor and I like to tell each other, ‘Don’t talk about my friend like that!’ which is a nice reminder that you wouldn’t say disparaging things about your friends, so why would you say them about yourself?” —Peloton instructor Katie Wang

“... I just treat myself like somebody I love.” — Padma Lakshmi

“Self-care is really rooted in self-preservation, just like self-love is rooted in honesty. We have to start being more honest with what we need, and what we deserve, and start serving that to ourselves.” — Lizzo

"We need wholesome self-care and we also need hoe-some self-care.” ―Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby

“In order for something to feel really good and beneficial it usually takes some time. It’s easy to want to abandon ship when whatever we’re trying doesn’t immediately make us feel like the reason why we wanted to start doing it. But, when we begin something there’s a learning period that can be frustrating and uncomfy and that’s OK!” —Peloton instructor Anna Greenberg

“I practice self-care in lots of ways. I like to work out, read, and watch my favorite comfort movies. Really anything that lets me relax and wind down is self-care to me.” — Natalia Bryant

“Self-care equals success. You’re going to be more successful if you take care of yourself and you’re healthy.” —Beth Behrs

“I try to think of the word self-care actually as a verb because I think people approach it as a noun, which is fine, but then I think it becomes something that’s static and also capitalized upon. It becomes over-worn if it is seen as this stoic, unmoving, unchanging thing that we don’t really participate in, but talk about. I try to make self-care an active part of my life, because I think it’s so easy in the type of industrialized society we live in, to reach burnout again and again and again. I’m always trying to explore and play with new ways for that.” — Amanda Gorman

“Pay attention to what gratitude feels like.” —Peloton instructor Aditi Shah  

“Self-care for me is about connecting daily with the people I love in my life, and staying in touch.” — Jake Gyllenhaal 

“Self-care is not a waste of time. Self care makes your use of time more sustainable.” —Jackie Viramontez

“Self-care is looked at as this luxurious thing, but when you replace it with soul care, these things become acts that you’re doing for the good of your soul.” —Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin

“Right now, the way I’m doing self-care is to go outside, even if it’s cold and especially if I don’t want to. I get some sun for at least five minutes, and if there’s no sun (because it’s been pretty cloudy where I am), I just get fresh air or some kind of light as I’m drinking my morning coffee.” — Eva Mendes

“We can climb mountains with self-love.” — Samira Wiley

“Treat yourself as you would treat others—and hopefully that’s with kindness, empathy and love.” —Peloton instructor Katie Wang

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe

“You almost need to have a little emergency SOS pack of things that you know will make you feel better, like if you take yourself out of a certain situation, or know if you need to be off your phone for the next 24 hours—little self-care go-tos that you can whip out when you’re feeling anxious, stressed, fatigued, or angry.” — Iskra Lawrence

“Your passion will propel you.” —Peloton instructor Alex Toussaint

“If you are able to be kind to yourself, you’ll be more kind to others. And that will come straight back at you, which will stress you out less. You’ll look, feel, and be better, because you created a healthy, generous environment.” — Regé-Jean Page

“Talking to ourselves from self-love and self-respect is a practice.” ― Brené Brown

“Honor where you’ve been, embrace where you are, celebrate where you’re going.” —Peloton instructor Anna Greenberg

“Self-care means saying ‘no’ sometimes.” — James Whiteside

Kobus Louw / E+ via Getty Images

How Can Self-Care Quotes Enrich Your Wellness Journey (and Daily Life)?

Embracing and prioritizing self-care will make a huge difference in your life, even if you’re not quite convinced it’ll work for you. Beyond the buzzword, self-care is strongly linked to your mental health and overall well-being. In fact, two of the tenets of self-care outlined by the National Institute of Mental Health are to “ practice gratitude ” and “focus on positivity”—both of which you can achieve by reviewing these quotes.

“Quotes can be used like a mantra, to set the tone of your day to a more positive one,” Yang says. “They can help you ‘fake it till you make it’ and nudge you into a better-feeling place.”

Consistency is key, too, so you should make reading these quotes a part of your self-care routine. Yang says that the more you reflect on them, the better you’ll feel.

“The impact just gets greater over time the more you focus on self-care quotes,” Yang says. “The more you expose yourself, and the longer you’re exposed, the more you’ll start to internalize the information and change your overall mindset.”

An additional strategy? Carving out some time for mindful movement . You can find similar mantras and quotes from Peloton instructors in thousands of guided classes, from a calming meditation class or heart-pumping HIIT ride, available in the Peloton App .

Related Articles

50 Empowering Self-Confidence Quotes to Inspire You

35 Inspirational Running Quotes to Power You Through Every Mile

50 Motivational Workout Quotes for When You Need Some Serious Inspiration

30 Growth Mindset Quotes to Help You Reach Any Goal

This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute individualized advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. Seek the advice of your physician for questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. If you are having a medical emergency, call your physician or 911 immediately.

Strengthen your mind-body connection

Enter your email to get articles, expert-backed tips, and updates from Peloton sent to your inbox.

By providing your email address, you agree to receive marketing communications from Peloton.

For more about how we use your information, see our  Privacy Policy.

Site Navigation

Latest stories.

Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices.

We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including scientific studies and medical journals.

If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing [email protected] .

Beauty Chemist Shares 5 Drugstore Skincare Products With High-End Ingredients

Save money without skimping on the best ingredients for your skin..

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission.

If you’re a skincare connoisseur, you don’t need us to tell you that your beauty products are expensive. There’s cleansers, moisturizer, vitamin C serums, and retinol creams, and that doesn’t even account for the products that you might only use on a weekly basis like exfoliant and face masks. And then there’s so many brands to choose from —like, too many . It can be overwhelming, especially when you zero in on the price tag. But that’s where medical chemist and beauty TikToker Sarah Babula ( @sarahbabula ) comes in. In a recent clip, she highlighted five drugstore skincare products that are cost-effective , but don’t skimp out on high-end ingredients. See her top picks ahead.

RELATED: Dermatologist Reveals Her 7 Favorite Dollar Tree Skincare Products for Anti-Aging .

1 | Naturium Retinol Complex Serum

Copyright @sarahbabula / TikTok

If you’re thinking about adding a retinol serum to your skincare routine but aren’t looking to spend a pretty penny, then opt for the Naturium Retinol Complex Serum , which is just $20 on Amazon. It has the same active ingredients as Algenist's retinol ($85) for a quarter of the cost.

“They both use the same exact encapsulated retinol complex, and they both contain the plant-based ingredients that are supposed to act as retinol alternatives that work together with the actual retinol,” explained Babula.

According to the product’s packaging, the serum “targets fine lines and wrinkles while promoting collagen production.”

2 | Byoma Moisturizing Cream

Although a trustworthy brand, SkinCeuticals runs a high price tag. Instead, look to Byoma for budget-friendly products with high-end ingredients. At Ulta, Babula found a range of Byoma products for $20-$25.

“The $155 SkinCeuticals moisturizer uses a ratio of cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids—a complex that Byoma uses in all their products,” said Babula.

The only difference between the two brands (apart from their drastic pricing) is the type of fatty acids they use, but Babula said this shouldn’t deter you from making the switch to Byoma.

Ordinary Retinal Serum

Not to be confused with retinol, retinal undergoes a faster conversion process, which means it’s able to get to work faster on your skin. Those new to retinal should try The Ordinary version , which offers the same high-quality ingredients as Dr. Whitney Bowe, but for significantly cheaper.

“The $99 Dr. Whitney Bowe retinal actually uses the same delivery system as The Ordinary does, and with The Ordinary, you’re actually getting 0.1 percent more retinal for only $15,” revealed Babula.

RELATED: 104-Year-Old Woman Reveals Her Anti-Aging Skincare Routine .

Peach & Lily Retinal For All Renewing Serum

Another affordable brand for retinal is Peach & Lily. Those who like Medik8’s products will find the formula of Peach & Lily’s products to be very similar.

“Medik8 has different strengths for its retinal,” Babula first explained. “The 0.1 percent is going to cost $107, [but] instead you can get 0.1% retinal in that same exact delivery system for only $55 from Peach & Lily .”

5 | COSRX Propolis Light Cream

COSRX is an amazing drugstore brand, especially when it comes to products that nourish and hydrate the skin. In fact, you’ll find that their ingredients match those found in Farmacy’s skincare.

“The Farmacy moisturizer uses a combination of honey, propolis, and royal jelly extract. If you want to try those ingredients, the COSRX propolis moisturizer has all of them,” said Babula.

She did mention that the COSRX cream is “more lightweight” than Farmacy’s Honey Halo cream, but still gets the job done. “I love this moisturizer. I actually used it for a really long time,” she added.

Farmacy Honey Halo retails for $48, while COSRX Propolis Light Cream costs $32 at Ulta and Amazon (at the latter, it was on sale for $17.50 at the time of writing).

5 Things You Can Do Now to Lose 20 Pounds

Lactaid milk sold in 27 states is being recalled, baby powder recalled over possible asbestos contamination, the habit that helps you lose belly fat.

latest in US News

Boy abducted from California in 1951 found safe on East Coast...

California yacht with fireworks, ammo onboard sinks after...

Florida to Louisiana braces for likely tropical storm or...

Unearthed video reiterates Kamala Harris’ previous support for...

Lindsey Graham shocked by 'beyond unnerving' racism, sexism...

RFK Jr. supporters in swing state couldn’t care less about sext...

Upstate NY Democrat launches write-in campaign after primary...

Feds' raid of interim NYPD commissioner just days after he took...

Terminally ill missouri mom, 79, to head to switzerland for assisted suicide: ‘i’ve had a great life’.

A terminally ill Missouri mom is heading to Switzerland to end her own life before her disease makes the trip impossible.

Gayle Hendrix, a 79-year-old mother of two from Cape Girardeau, has struggled with a brutal combination of lupus and interstitial lung disease for the past four years. And although her friends say she doesn’t seem like she’s nearing the end, she says she knows otherwise.

“My friends will say, ‘But you don’t look or sound or act like somebody who is near death.’ But I am dying, and that’s what I want to control,” the former human-resources worker recently told local news station 12 KFVS.

“I don’t want to get to the point of, ‘This is existing, not living,’ ” she said, adding that she’s tied to an oxygen machine and can only walk short distances. “I’ve had a great life, and I want to have some dignity when I’m going to the next phase.”

Hendrix, a retiree originally from North Carolina, was always active and busy before her cruel diagnoses, daughter Charlene Foeste told the station.

“She always either had three jobs or she was going somewhere, like to concerts or festivals,” Foeste said. “She was always busy, always.”

Hendrix said she loved to hike, travel, walk and bike — and she always took Foeste to concerts when she was young, fostering a love of music in the next generation.

“I would love to say I was a poet, a painter and a musician … I have nothing in that arena,” Hendrix said with a laugh. “So I think that’s why I took up walking, because I can walk. I was an avid walker, anywhere from 3 to 5 miles a day … every day up until about 3 years ago.”

That’s how she figured out she was sick, the mom told the station.

“My shortness of breath kept getting worse and worse,” Hendrix said. “Even on flat surfaces, I was breathing heavy.”

Even before her own sickness, Hendrix had been a decades-long advocate for assisted suicide, getting involved with groups such as Compassion and Choices, a Colorado nonprofit that works to open access to aid-in-dying.

That’s how she knew that she wanted her own off-ramp, whenever the time was right.

“It just feels like it’s the right thing to do,” Hendrix said. “People are not comfortable talking about death.”

Her daughter doesn’t agree with her mother’s decision. But she is supporting her anyway.

“My mom and I are opposites — we really are on everything — we always have been,” Foeste said.

“My mom has always walked to her own beat. You know, you don’t have to agree with people, you don’t, but you do have to love and support people.”

In just a few days, the mother-daughter duo will board a plane for Switzerland, where Hendrix will end her life Sept. 26.

“She’s a very realistic person, she’s always hit issues and problems head-on,” Foeste said. “It is going to be hard, but I know that, and I know sort of what to expect and what the end result is going to be for sure.”

Hendrix, for her part, wants to make sure the deed is done before she’s too sick to travel.

“When I started seeing more and more decline, like monthly, I can tell this is not as good as it was last month,” she said. “I knew then, if I wanted to do it when I’m still able to walk in and still make the trip, then I need to do it soon.”

Although several US states have assisted suicide laws on the books, they all have residency requirements, according to the station.

The two that don’t — Oregon and Vermont — mandate that the person can’t have more than six months to live.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” Hendrix said. “I don’t want to get that sick.”

Hendrix already knows the drill — doctors will put an IV in her arm, and the first drug will put her to sleep while the second stops her bodily functions.

“In 5 minutes, it’s done,” she said.

Her body will be cremated, and her remains will be sent back to Missouri.

Despite the finality of her act, she says she’s not nervous.

“I was just sitting here while I was describing this thinking, ‘I sound like a clinician, I don’t sound like someone talking about my own death,’ ” she said. “But it’s because I’m so, I’m comfortable with my decision.”

That doesn’t dampen the pain that her family will feel.

“It’s a huge loss, a huge loss for us,” Foeste said. “It’s not going to be the same. It’s just not.

“I can’t say I agree with her decision, I don’t,” she added. “But, it’s not my choice. I do love her and support her, and there’s no way on the planet my mom is going to do this alone, no way.

“It’s been hard, but I’ve been blessed to have her as my mom,” Foeste said.

Advertisement